Which imaging view is commonly used as the diagnostic view?

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In diagnostic mammography, adding a lateral view provides a side perspective that reduces tissue overlap seen in frontal views, which is crucial for accurately localizing a lesion in depth. This view helps determine exactly where a finding sits within the breast, its extent, and whether there is spread along the chest wall or into nearby areas. By comparing how the abnormality appears on the lateral view with the standard views, radiologists can characterize it more precisely and guide further management, such as targeted biopsy. This is why the lateral view is commonly used as the diagnostic view after an abnormal screening result.