Development of ultrasound diagnosis in breast cancer and the experience of Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women, and early diagnosis is of great significance to improve the prognosis of breast cancer. The most commonly used imaging modality for the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer is breast ultrasonography. Since the 1960s and 1970s, aside from the three revolutions in ultrasonic technology and the continuous emergence of new ultrasonic techniques, a relatively established system has been gradually formed for the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer in China. The Department of Ultrasound Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) was one of the earliest units to apply ultrasound for the diagnosis of breast lesions in China. PUMCH has dedicated outstanding contributions in this field, with some of the achievements receiving international acclaim. In this review, the development of ultrasonographic diagnosis for breast cancer in China will be summarized, with emphasis on the contributions of PUMCH.