Indications for diagnostic mammography:
Types of mammography:
film ( images are stored on film); digital (computer) - a more modern type of mammography, in which images are made in digital form with the possibility of highlighting suspicious areas; 3D (tomosynthesis) - cross-sectional image of breast tissue.
Preparing for a mammogram
Mammography is recommended to take place within 7 days after the end of menstruation.
The day before the procedure, do not use deodorant / antiperspirant, talcum powder, cream and other types of cosmetics in the chest and armpits. This is due to the fact that cosmetic substances distort the results of the study, appearing on the mammogram in the form of microcalcifications.
If you have had a mammogram before, take the test results with you and show your doctor.
The course of the procedure
The patient must undress to the waist and remove metal jewelry.
The doctor tightly fixes the breast between the plates of the mammograph to take x-rays (mammograms) of the glands in two projections. Compression (compression) of the breast is necessary in order to evenly distribute the gland tissue and reduce the radiation dose. At the same time, the special structure of the apparatus ensures that radiation reaches the chest, excluding the effects of rays on the body.
To reduce the likelihood of smearing the picture, at the command of the doctor, you should hold your breath for a couple of seconds.
The procedure takes 20-30 minutes. On modern digital mammographs, the image is transferred to a computer.
For early diagnosis of breast cancer, international protocols recommend a resolution of at least 20 pixels per mm².
Features of mammography
Advantages | disadvantages |
high image quality at a low radiation dose; | irradiation of the body; |
mammography is a rapid diagnostic method; | chest compression causes discomfort; |
mammography can detect a tumor of a small size, including a tumor localized in the milk ducts in the mammary gland (ductal carcinoma). | mammography provides information about the presence of a mass in the breast, but often does not make it possible to assess its nature, as a result of which further examination (MRI, biopsy) is necessary. |
Thus, the diagnostic benefits of mammography outweigh the potential risks.