Mammography Is a Specific Type

Mammography is a specific type of imaging that uses a low-dose www.radiologyinfo.org/en/glossary/glossary1.cfm?gid=3 x-ray system to examine breasts. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, is used to aid in the early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women (Mammography). In recent years, there have been many significant technological improvements in mammographic x-ray equipment and viewing conditions. Until the mid-1980's, many x-ray units were used that were not dedicated to mammography.

These x-ray units were designed originally for medical imaging procedures, such as chest radiography. Direct exposure x-ray films were being used, which often required long exposure times (blurred by motion) and which resulted in high radiation exposure. In addition, viewing conditions were inadequate (Haus). Today, mammography is performed with dedicated mammographic x-ray equipment. These units have specially designed tube targets, smaller focal spots, and significantly improved breast compression devices, among other features.

Continued improvement in mammographic techniques, with marked reduction in radiation exposure, now makes mammography an essential part of the workup of any breast problem in women over age 30-35. In 2000, the first digital mammography system was approved by the FDA for clinical use (Haus).

The American College of Radiology (ACR) Mammography Accreditation Program was introduced in 1987, the ACR Quality Control Manuals introduced in 1992, and the Mammography Quality Standards Act which was implemented in 1994, have also had a significant impact on the improvement of the technical quality of mammographic images in the United States (Haus). In summary, today it is possible to obtain mammograms with higher image quality that require significantly lower radiation doses compared with mammograms dating back to the 1970s and early 1980s.

(Haus) Advances Two recent advances in mammography include digital mammography and computer-aided detection. Digital mammography, also called full-field digital mammography (FFDM), is a mammography system in which the x-ray film is replaced by solid-state detectors that convert x-rays into electrical signals. These detectors are similar to those found in digital cameras. The electrical signals are used to produce images of the breast that can be seen on a computer screen or printed on special film similar to conventional mammograms.

From the patient's point-of-view, having a digital mammogram is essentially the same as having a conventional film screen mammogram (Mammography). Computer-aided detection (CAD) systems use a digitized mammographic image that can be obtained from either a conventional film mammogram or a digitally acquired mammogram.

The computer software then searches for abnormal areas of www.radiologyinfo.org/en/glossary/glossary1.cfm?gid=427density,mass, or www.radiologyinfo.org/en/glossary/glossary1.cfm?gid=379calcificationthat may indicate the presence of www.radiologyinfo.org/en/glossary/glossary1.cfm?gid=285cancer.The CAD system highlights these areas on the images, alerting the www.radiologyinfo.org/en/glossary/glossary1.cfm?gid=17radiologistto the need for further analysis (Mammography).

Common Uses of Mammography Today Mammograms are used as a screening tool to detect early breast cancer in women experiencing no symptoms and to detect and diagnose breast disease in women experiencing symptoms such as a lump, pain or nipple discharge (Mammography). 1. Screening Mammography Mammography plays a central part in early detection of breast cancers because it can show changes in the breast up to two years before a patient or physician can feel them. Current guidelines recommend a screening mammography every year for women, beginning at age 40.

Research has shown that annual mammograms lead to early detection of breast cancers, when they are most curable and breast-conservation therapies are available (Mammography). 2. Diagnostic Mammography Diagnostic mammography is used to evaluate a patient with abnormal clinical findings such as a breast lump or lumps that have been found by the woman or a doctor (Mammography). Routine Mammogram Saved Her Life Following a routine mammogram in July 1998, Debi Koon received a call from her physician saying there was an area of concern in one of her breasts.

A follow-up visit and second mammogram the next day both identified an abnormal area. A biopsy taken shortly after revealed that Debi was in the early stages of breast cancer. Since it was detected early there were more treatment options. Debi was hospitalized for two days in 1998 for a mastectomy and underwent chemotherapy over the next five months. The mother of two daughters she felt so lucky just to be alive. Early detection saved her life! She credits her faith, family and the mammography test for getting her through it.

Future Mammography Technology study has found that positron emission mammography.