Table 1.

Advantages and disadvantages of imaging techniques

Imaging techniques	Advantages	Disadvantages
XRM	The golden standard for diagnosing BC patients Suitable as a screening method for BC Finding mammary gland calcification	Not suitable for people under 40 Not suitable for people with high gland density No more than twice a year
US	Suitable screening for young women Non‐invasive diagnostic methods Finding mammary gland inflammation	Not suitable for small mass and atypical tissue Affected by the examining doctor Definition and Resolution are not high
MRI	High sensitivity and specificity to invasive BC Screening of high‐risk groups, such as family history of BC Suitable for patients with breast‐conserving surgery	Not for everyone, such as patients with Claustrophobia and hypersensitivity to contrast Not suitable for wide scale screening Not suitable for BC staging
PET	High sensitivity to BC recurrence and metastasis Helpful for staging of the BC High sensitivity to small breast tumour (>0.5 cm)	High cost, not recommended as routine screening Not suitable for patients with hypersensitivity to Developer
CT	Supplementary diagnostic method for BC, such as identifying BC with or without intrapulmonary metastases	Not the first choice for diagnosing BC Radiation damage Poor spatial resolution and need experienced doctor
SPECT	High resolution, small field of vision Recommended use when suspects metastasis (such as osseous metastasis)	Obtaining littler clinic information Not suitable for patients with inflammatory bone lesions and bone proliferative metabolic abnormalities or variations

Abbreviations: CT, Computed tomography; MRI, Magnetic resonance imaging; PET, Positron emission tomography; SPECT, Single‐photon emission computed tomography; US, Ultrasonography; XRM, X‐ray mammography.