What is the preoperative staging workup in a patient with breast cancer?
- Bilateral mammogram (cancer in one breast is a risk factor for cancer in the contralateral breast!)
- CXR (to check for lung metastasis)
- LFTs (to check for liver metastasis)
- Serum calcium level, alkaline phosphatase (if these tests indicate bone metastasis/“bone pain,” proceed to bone scan)
- Other tests, depending on signs/symptoms (e.g., head CT scan if patient has focal neurologic deficit, to look for brain metastasis)