Mammography

What is a mammogram?

A mammogram is an x-ray examination of the breast. It is used to detect and diagnose breast disease in women who either have breast problems such as a lump, pain, or nipple discharge, as well as for women who have no breast complaints.

Mammography cannot prove that an abnormal area is cancer, but if it raises a significant suspicion of cancer, tissue will be removed for a biopsy. Tissue may be removed by needle or open surgical biopsy and examined under a microscope to determine if it is cancer.

Mammography has been used for about 30 years, and in the past 15 years technical advancements have greatly improved both the technique and results. Today, dedicated equipment, used only for breast x-rays, produce studies that are high in quality but low in radiation dose. Radiation risks are considered to be negligible.

Abnormal mammograms do not necessarily mean cancer.

Two kinds of mammograms...

A screening mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to detect breast changes in women who have no signs of breast cancer. It usually involves 2 x-rays of each breast. Using a mammogram, it is possible to detect a tumor that cannot be felt.

A diagnostic mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to diagnose unusual breast changes, such as: a lump, pain, nipple thickening or discharge, or a change in breast size or shape.

A diagnostic mammogram is also used to evaluate abnormalities detected on a screening mammogram. It is a basic medical tool and is appropriate in the workup of breast changes, regardless of a woman's age.

How is mammography performed?

X-rays of the breast are different than those used than for other parts of the body. The breast x-ray does not penetrate tissue as easily as the x-ray used for routine x-rays of other parts of the body. The breast is compressed by the mammogram equipment to spread the tissue apart. This allows for a lower dose of radiation. Compression of the breast may cause temporary discomfort, but is necessary to produce a good mammogram. The compression only lasts for a few seconds for each image of the breast.

A breast health nurse or x-ray technologist usually takes the x-rays, but the resulting films are read and interpreted by a radiologist, who reports the results to your physician.

What conditions does a mammogram show?

• Calcifications
  tiny mineral deposits within the breast tissue. There are two categories of calcifications:
  • macrocalcifications
    coarse calcium deposits that usually indicate degenerative changes in the breasts, such as:
    • aging of the breast arteries
    • old injuries
    • inflammations
  • microcalcifications
    tiny (less than 1/50 of an inch) specks of calcium. When many microcalcifications are seen in one area, they are referred to as a cluster.
    
• Masses
  which may occur with or without associated calcifications, and may be due to different causes, including:
  • cyst
    a non-cancerous collection of fluid in the breast. It cannot be diagnosed by physical exam alone nor by mammography alone. Either breast ultrasound or aspiration with a needle is required. If a mass is not a cyst, then further imaging may be obtained.
  • benign breast conditions
    masses can be monitored with periodic mammography, but others may require immediate or delayed biopsy.
  • breast cancer

What are guidelines for having mammograms?