Mammography

Mammography is a specialized breast imaging technique using low-dose X-rays to detect breast cancer early, before symptoms appear, when it is most treatable. This X-ray examination helps physicians diagnose and manage medical conditions by exposing the body to minimal ionizing radiation to produce internal images, representing the oldest and most common form of medical imaging.

Inform your doctor of any breast symptoms or issues, prior surgeries, hormone use, family or personal breast cancer history, and possible pregnancy; bring previous mammograms for the radiologist if available.

Screening and Diagnostic Uses

Mammograms serve as a screening tool for early breast cancer detection in asymptomatic women and for identifying breast disease in those with symptoms like lumps, pain, skin dimpling, or nipple discharge. Mammography plays a central role in early breast carcinoma detection by revealing changes years before they are palpable by patient or physician.

Equipment and Techniques

The mammographic unit is a box with an X-ray tube, dedicated exclusively to breast imaging with attachments limiting radiation to the breast, plus a device for compression and positioning to capture images from various angles. Breast tomosynthesis uses digital mammographic units, though not all support this advanced imaging.

Risks and Side Effects

A small cancer risk exists from radiation overexposure, but the diagnostic benefit far outweighs this due to low doses used. False positives occur in 5-15% of cases, prompting additional tests like repeat mammograms or ultrasound—most prove normal—with follow-up or biopsy if needed, rarely confirming cancer.

Recent Advances

Advancements include digital mammography (full-field digital mammography or FFDM), which replaces X-ray film with electronics converting rays into images like digital cameras, yielding better images at lower radiation doses for radiologist review and long-term storage, plus computer-aided detection and tomosynthesis.