Women's Imaging

What is Mammography?

Most medical experts agree that successful treatment of breast cancer is linked to early diagnosis. Mammography, which uses a low-dose x-ray system for examination of the breasts, plays a central part in early detection of breast cancer because it can identify changes in the breast up to two years before a breast cancer becomes palpable. Current screening guidelines are available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR). The National Cancer Institute (NCI) adds that women who have had breast cancer and those who are at increased risk due to a genetic history of breast cancer should seek expert medical advice about whether they should begin screening before age 40 and about the frequency of screening.

What are some common uses of the procedure?

Mammography is often the first diagnostic test used to aid in the diagnosis of breast diseases in women, and occasionally in men. Screening mammography can assist your physician in the detection of early breast cancer, even in the absence of complaints or symptoms.

Initial mammography images are sometimes not always sufficient to determine the existence of a benign or malignant disease process with certainty. If a finding or area seems suspicious, your radiologist may recommend further diagnostic studies, like spot compression views, ultrasound or breast MRI.

How should I prepare for the procedure?

Before scheduling a mammogram, the American Cancer Society (ACS) and other specialty organizations recommend that you discuss any new findings or problems with your breasts with your doctor. In addition, inform your doctor of any prior breast surgeries, hormone use, and family or personal history of breast cancer.

Do not schedule your mammogram for the week before your period if your breasts are usually tender during this time. The best time for mammography is one week following your period. Always inform your doctor or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that you are pregnant. Before the examination, you will be asked to remove all jewelry and clothing above the waist, and you will be given a gown that opens in the front.

The ACS also recommends:

• Do not wear deodorant, talcum powder, or lotion under your arms or on your breasts on the day of the exam. These can appear on the x-ray film as calcium spots
• Describe any breast symptoms or problems to the technologist performing the exam
• If possible, obtain prior mammograms and make them available to the radiologist at the time of the current exam
• Ask when your results will be available; do not assume the results are normal if you do not hear from your doctor or the mammography facility

What should I expect during the procedure?

Mammography is performed in the privacy of the Women’s Imaging Division of Manhattan Diagnostic Radiology. A certified mammography technologist will ask you to take off your shirt, bra and jewelry. The technologist will image each breast separately. A minimum of two views of each breast will be obtained. The routine views are a top-to-bottom (craniocaudal) view and a side-to-side (mediolateral) view. The breast is placed on a special platform and compressed for a few seconds. You will feel some pressure when your breasts are compressed, but this is normally not painful.

Breast compression is necessary in order to:

• Even out the breast so that all of the tissue can be visualized
• Spread out the breast tissue so that small abnormalities won't be obscured by overlying tissue
• Allow the use of a lower x-ray dose since a thinner amount of breast tissue is being imaged
• Hold the breast still in order to eliminate blurring of the image caused by motion
• Reduce x-ray scatter to increase sharpness of picture

The examination process should take 10 minutes. When the mammogram is completed you will be asked to wait until the technologist examines the images to determine if more views are needed.