Your radiologist may also magnify any areas of concern. Some experts, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network , recommend that women who are age 40 and older should have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years.
The American Cancer Society recommends regular screening beginning at age If you have a personal or family history of breast cancer, your doctor may recommend that you start screenings earlier, have them more often, or use additional diagnostic tools. Most people feel some discomfort during a mammogram when their breasts are compressed.
Your exact experience will vary depending on a few unique factors, such as:. Any pain or discomfort you feel should be short-lived. The procedure takes about 20 minutes , but the parts that lead to pain or discomfort only last for a few seconds at a time. You should avoid applying the following substances, which can show up as white spots on the image:.
In general, you will not be able to receive a screening mammogram at this time, but if necessary, your doctor can order other screening methods, such as an ultrasound. After undressing from the waist up and taking off any necklaces, a technician will give you a smock or gown that ties in the front. Depending on the testing facility, you may either stand or sit while the images are taken. Each breast fits onto a flat X-ray plate. A compressor will then push the breast down to flatten the tissue.
This provides a clearer picture of the breast. You might have to hold your breath for each picture. During the process, your doctor will review the images as they are made. This happens quite frequently and is considered routine. People in this age group typically have denser breasts compared with older adults. A digital mammogram transforms the X-ray into an electronic picture of the breast that saves onto a computer.
If something unexpected is detected on your mammogram, you may need other tests. These might include additional imaging tests such as ultrasound, and a procedure biopsy to remove a sample of breast tissue for laboratory testing. However, most findings detected on mammograms aren't cancer. If your mammogram detects something unusual, the doctor who interprets the images radiologist will want to compare it with previous mammograms.
If you have had mammograms performed elsewhere, your radiologist will ask for your permission to request them from your previous health care providers. At the testing facility, you're given a gown and asked to remove neck jewelry and clothing from the waist up. For the procedure itself, you stand in front of an X-ray machine specially designed for mammography. A member of your health care team places one of your breasts on a platform and raises or lowers the platform to match your height.
Your head, arms and torso are positioned in order to allow an unobstructed view of your breast. Your breast is gradually pressed against the platform by a clear plastic plate. Pressure is applied for a few seconds to spread out the breast tissue. The pressure isn't harmful, but it can cause some discomfort. Tell your health care team if the discomfort becomes too much.
Your breast must be compressed to even out its thickness and permit the X-rays to penetrate the breast tissue. The pressure also holds your breast still to decrease blurring from movement and minimizes the dose of radiation needed. During the brief X-ray exposure, you'll be asked to stand still and hold your breath.
After images are made of both your breasts, you may be asked to wait while your care team checks the quality of the images. If the views are inadequate for technical reasons, you may have to repeat part of the test.
The entire procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes. Afterward, you may dress and resume your usual activities. Mammography produces mammograms — black-and-white images of your breast tissue. Mammograms are digital images that appear on a computer screen. A doctor who specializes in interpreting imaging tests radiologist examines the images. The breast is compressed against a clear plastic plate and a pressure is applied for a few seconds to compress and spread out the breast tissues.
The pressure applied is not harmful but might cause some pain and discomfort in some women. In case the pain is not bearable, the technician must be informed immediately.
The breast is compressed to even out the thickness and make it easy for the X-rays to penetrate the breast. The pressure applied on the breast is to hold it firmly and prevent it from any movement. This allows less amount of radiation dose and prevents blurring. During the radiation exposure, the woman is asked to stay still and hold breath for a few seconds.
The images of the breast will be taken from different angles and will be captured on the monitor. The woman might be asked to wait till the clarity of the images are checked by the technician. In few cases, the technician might ask to repeat the procedure for unclear images. The whole procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes to complete.
After the procedure, the woman might feel some discomfort and discoloration in the breast due to the compression during the procedure. After the report is prepared, it is sent to the doctor for further interpretation and discussion with the patient. The woman can go back home and start with the normal routine activities after the test. The doctor will discuss the results of the mammography test with the patient in detail. Some of the findings of the test are as mentioned. If the doctor is not certain about the results then some additional tests may be advised e.
Also, in a few cases, the doctor might ask to get some more magnified tests done for a clear and better understanding of the problem e.
Breast MRI is required in a scenario where ultrasound and mammogram show negative results and if the abnormality or breast changes are unclear.
The doctor must be informed about the breast implantation at the time when mammography is advised. Although, the implants make it difficult to interpret mammography, still the patient must get the procedure done in a certified healthcare unit where the doctors are experts in performing mammography with breast implants for best results.
All the cancers or tumors cannot be detected through a mammogram. Especially at a younger age, it is difficult to identify any cancerous growth as there are fewer fat tissues present in comparison to glandular tissues. Hence, it is important to continuously monitor the breasts at home and get the same examined by the doctor once in every three years from the age of 20 years and once every year at the age of 40 years.
State Location Phone No. Home All Medical Procedures Mammogram. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, aids in the early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women. An x-ray exam helps doctors diagnose and treat medical conditions. It exposes you to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the oldest and most often used form of medical imaging. Three recent advances in mammography include digital mammography, computer-aided detection and breast tomosynthesis.
Digital mammography , also called full-field digital mammography FFDM , is a mammography system in which the x-ray film is replaced by electronics that convert x-rays into mammographic pictures of the breast.
These systems are similar to those found in digital cameras and their efficiency enables better pictures with a lower radiation dose. These images of the breast are transferred to a computer for review by the radiologist and for long term storage.
The patient's experience during a digital mammogram is similar to having a conventional film mammogram. Computer-aided detection CAD systems search digitized mammographic images for abnormal areas of density , mass, or calcification that may indicate the presence of cancer. The CAD system highlights these areas on the images, alerting the radiologist to carefully assess this area.
Breast tomosynthesis , also called three-dimensional 3-D mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis DBT , is an advanced form of breast imaging where multiple images of the breast from different angles are captured and reconstructed "synthesized" into a three-dimensional image set. In this way, 3-D breast imaging is similar to computed tomography CT imaging in which a series of thin "slices" are assembled together to create a 3-D reconstruction of the body.
Although the radiation dose for some breast tomosynthesis systems is slightly higher than the dosage used in standard mammography, it remains within the FDA-approved safe levels for radiation from mammograms. Some systems have doses very similar to conventional mammography.
Large population studies have shown that screening with breast tomosynthesis results in improved breast cancer detection rates and fewer "call-backs," instances where women are called back from screening for additional testing because of a potentially abnormal finding. Mammograms are used as a screening tool to detect early breast cancer in women experiencing no symptoms. They can also be used to detect and diagnose breast disease in women experiencing symptoms such as a lump, pain, skin dimpling or nipple discharge.
Screening Mammography Mammography plays a central part in early detection of breast cancers because it can show changes in the breast years before a patient or physician can feel them.
Research has shown that annual mammograms lead to early detection of breast cancers, when they are most curable and breast-conservation therapies are available. The ACR and the National Cancer Institute NCI also suggest that women who have had breast cancer, and those who are at increased risk due to a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, should seek expert medical advice about whether they should begin screening before age 40 and the need for other types of screening.
If you are at high risk for breast cancer, you may need to obtain a breast MRI in addition to your annual mammogram. See the Breast Cancer Treatment page for information about breast cancer therapy. Diagnostic Mammography Diagnostic mammography is used to evaluate a patient with abnormal clinical findings—such as a breast lump or nipple discharge—that have been found by the woman or her doctor. Diagnostic mammography may also be done after an abnormal screening mammogram in order to evaluate the area of concern on the screening exam.
Before scheduling a mammogram, the American Cancer Society ACS and other specialty organizations recommend that you discuss any new findings or problems in your breasts with your doctor.
In addition, inform your doctor of any prior surgeries, hormone use, and family or personal history of breast cancer. Do not schedule your mammogram for the week before your menstrual period if your breasts are usually tender during this time.
The best time for a mammogram is one week following your period. Always inform your doctor or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that you are pregnant. A mammography unit is a box with a tube that produces x-rays. The unit is used exclusively for breast x-ray exams and features special accessories to limit x-ray exposure to only the breast. The unit features a device to hold and compress the breast and position it so the technologist can capture images at different angles.
Breast tomosynthesis is performed using digital mammography units, but not all digital mammography machines are equipped to perform tomosynthesis imaging. X-rays are a form of radiation like light or radio waves. X-rays pass through most objects, including the body. The technologist carefully aims the x-ray beam at the area of interest.
The machine produces a small burst of radiation that passes through your body. The radiation records an image on photographic film or a special detector. Different parts of the body absorb the x-rays in varying degrees.
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