Clinical Breast Examination

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Test Overview

A clinical breast examination (CBE) is a physical examination of the breast done by a health professional. Clinical breast examinations are used along with mammograms to check women for breast cancer. Clinical breast examinations are also used to check for other breast problems.

Medical experts disagree about the need for regular clinical breast examinations. Some doctors recommend regular CBE. However, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says that studies do not show support for or against regular CBE. Some studies show that mammogram tests alone reduce breast cancer deaths just as well as using mammograms and CBE.

A clinical breast examination may be part of your regular checkup. Talk with your health professional about how often you need a breast examination.

Breast implants do not change a woman's chance of getting breast cancer, so women with breast implants should also have regular clinical breast examinations.

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Last updated:	April 17, 2006
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine, Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer

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