Mammography
Mammography is the process of using low-dose X-rays to examine the human breast.
The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer, typically through
detection of characteristic masses, architectural distortion and/or microcalcifications.
Mammography reduces mortality from breast cancer. No other imaging technique has
been shown to reduce the death rate, but breast self-examination (BSE) and physician
examination are considered part of regular breast care.
Mammography does not find all cancers. This is partly due to dense tissues obscuring
the cancer and the fact that the appearance of cancer on mammograms may overlap
with the appearance of normal tissues.
Mammography also finds many abnormalities that are not cancer. Women may be understandably
distressed to be called back for a diagnostic mammogram. Most of these recalls will
not be cancer, but radiologists would rather be “safe-than-sorry,” so try not to
worry if you’re called back for extra pictures. Some women even need a needle biopsy
to determine whether cancer is present, or not. These are done usually with either
ultrasound or mammogram guidance. Local anaesthetic (freezing) is given first. It
stings about the same, or less, than the sting when blood is taken from the arm.
Once the freezing is in, only dull pressure is felt. So a needle biopsy is only
slightly “more glamorous” than a blood test!
A mammogram is a quick and easy X-ray of the breast done in complete privacy by
a specially trained female technologist.
Often
women are quite distressed to be called back for a diagnostic mammogram. Most of
these recalls will be false positive results.
A mammogram is a quick and easy X-ray of the breast done in complete
privacy by a specially trained female technologist.
Who interprets the results and how do I get them?
A radiologist, a physician specifically trained to supervise and interpret radiology
examinations, will analyze the images and send a signed report to your primary care
or referring physician, who will discuss the results with you. You will also be
notified of the results by the mammography facility.
What are the benefits vs. risks?
Benefits
- • Imaging of the breast improves a physician's ability to detect small tumors. When
cancers are small, the woman has more treatment options and a cure is more likely.
Risks
- Five percent to 10 percent of screening mammograms require more testing such as
additional mammograms or ultrasound, etc. Most of these tests turn out to be not
cancer. If there is an abnormal finding, a follow-up or biopsy may be recommended.
- The risk of the radiation from a mammogram actually causing a breast cancer is negligible.
The doses used are very small. It’s estimated that out of a million mammograms performed,
that theoretically, one cancer might be caused. The data from the BC Screening Mammography
Program show that women who have mammograms have over 40% fewer deaths from breast
cancer than women who do not have mammograms, so even if there’s a theoretical risk
of one cancer being caused (per million mammograms), the risk of dying from it is
less. In other words, the benefit far outweighs the potential risk.
Mammograms are the most important tool doctors have, not only to screen for breast
cancer, but also to diagnose, evaluate, and follow people who’ve had breast cancer.
They are safe and reasonably accurate, and have been in use for over 50 years.
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