The Hindu : First atlas in Asia on breast imaging

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 03, 2002

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National

First atlas in Asia on breast imaging

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi March 2. Cancer, if detected early, is curable. But even though the incidence of breast cancer is known to be on the rise, most women in the susceptible category fear going in for check-ups.

To dispel the fears, a well-known radiologist, C.S. Pant who was associated for long years with the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) has written the first comprehensive atlas in Asia on breast imaging.

At the release here of the atlas by the Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha, Najma Heptullah, it was revealed that the most susceptible category was those who have late children or no children at all and those marry late or do not marry at all.

However, breast-feeding provides some protection to women.

Col. Pant said the Atlas covers both aspects of breast imaging i.e. X-ray mammography and ultrasound.

Recently mammography has assumed an important role in monitoring patients taking hormone replacement therapy.

The Director-General, Health Services, S.P. Agarwal, said there were 2.5 million cases of cancer every year and 80 per cent come at a later stage.

As a preventive measure he suggested that women above 40 years should go in for breast imaging once a year, those after 50 twice a year and those with a family history should get breast mammography done more frequently.

Col. Pant's Atlas has 513 illustrations with self- explanatory text. Published by M/S Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, the book is priced at Rs. 1500.

The only other book on the subject written by a Swedish radiologist costs Rs. 8000.

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