Mammography: What is Mammography Test

Mammography is an imaging modality that checks for breast cancer in women. The images that it produces are called mammograms. These images may show small tumours that cannot be felt, along with other irregularities in the breast. A mammogram could be either to screen for breast cancer or to diagnose it. Mammography is a rapidly evolving field. Digital Mammography, which records the images on a computer rather than on film, produces sharper, high contrast images that can help highlight important details. Another advance is breast chemosynthesis – a technique that generates 3D images of the breast.

Mammography uses computers and specially designed digital detectors to produce detailed X-ray images of the breast tissue. The purpose of mammography is to identify breast cancer early in its development, when it is still very small, often years before it is large enough to be felt as a lump.

Mammography Indications and Procedures :

Indication: As a screening tool to detect early breast cancer in women experiencing no symptoms.
To detect and diagnose breast disease in women experiencing symptoms like lump, skin dimpling, nipple discharge or pain in the breast

Procedures: Markers are placed on the skin showing where moles and/or surgical scars are located. The technician will manually reposition the breast in the machine for each image to ensure proper positioning. For each image the breast will be compressed between two plates in order to obtain the best possible image. The amount of compression is the same for both 2D and 3D mammograms. The time in compression is slightly longer for the 3D mammogram. Breast compression is necessary to obtain the best possible images while exposing patients to the smallest possible amount of radiation