Blogs
What is a one stop clinic or triple assessment clinic?
One stop clinic is where a patient presenting with breast symptoms are assessed.
You will have the opportunity to discuss your concerns with a specialist. Your breast and axilla will be examined during the consultation. Subsequently, depending on the nature of your symptoms and clinical examination findings, you will be offered either ultrasound and/or mammogram.
Mammogram (X-ray examination of breast) is not normally offered to women less than 40 years of age. This is due to the inability of mammogram to clearly visualise dense glandular breast tissue present in younger women.
If there is a palpable lump or any incidental radiological abnormalities (on ultrasound and/or mammogram), the specialist will take a tissue sample from your breast or axilla (biopsy).
The whole process of clinical examination, radiological investigations (mammogram/ultrasound) and biopsy together is commonly known as triple assessment. All the above investigations will happen during the same clinic appointment and hence it is also referred to as one stop clinic. The specialist will be able to update on the findings of all investigations except for any biopsies performed on the day.
