October 18 is the US National Mammography Day. To commemorate the day, and to highlight the importance of breast cancer screening, this article gives a quick read of what, why, and how.
What is Mammography?
Mammography is a medical imaging technique that uses X-rays to examine the breasts. A mammography exam is called a mammogram. It is useful in the detection and diagnosis of breast cancers.
Types of Mammography
Screening Mammogram
This is conducted regularly to detect a tumor in the breasts even if there are no apparent symptoms.
Guidelines from the American Cancer Society recommend women above 40 years of age to have annual screenings. Women with a family or genetic history of breast cancer are at high risk; in such cases, an MRI may also be recommended.
Research proves that annual mammograms help with early detection of breast cancers. When a tumor is spotted in its early stages, it may be contained, cured, and breast-conservation therapies are available.
Diagnostic Mammogram
This is conducted when your doctor suspects a tumor after a screening test or if there are visible symptoms of breast cancer, including breast lumps, lumps under the arm, nipple discharge, rash, skin irritation or dimpling, and nipple retraction.
Diagnostic mammography is recommended when there are abnormal clinical findings or if screenings show signs of a tumor. It is usually performed after a screening mammogram.
How Does the Procedure Work?
In a traditional mammogram, a stationary X-ray tube captures an image from the compressed breast. Advancements in medical technology allow imaging from different angles to better evaluate and treat tumors.
Modern systems use controlled X-ray beams, ensuring the dosage is specific and not scattered. This minimizes radiation exposure in both screening and diagnostic mammograms. While diagnostic mammograms help determine if symptoms indicate a tumor, screening mammograms provide a detailed X-ray of the breasts using advanced technology.
Recent Advancements in Mammography
Digital Mammography
Unlike film mammograms, digital mammograms capture and convert X-ray energy into digital images of the breast, allowing for easier storage, transfer, and analysis.
Computer-Aided Detection
These systems scan digitized mammographic images for areas of abnormal tissue, alerting the radiologist to carefully examine those regions, improving detection accuracy.
Breast Tomosynthesis
Also known as 3D mammography or digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), this advanced system takes multiple images of the breast from different angles and reconstructs them into a three-dimensional image set, reducing false positives and improving cancer detection.
Pros and Cons of Mammography
Pros
- Screening mammography reduces the risk of uncontrollable and terminal tumors.
- When tumors are small, they are more likely to be curable, and more treatment options are available.
Cons
- There is a small chance of excess radiation exposure, but compared to the benefit of accurate diagnosis, the risk is negligible.
- False-positive results can occur, leading to additional tests such as ultrasounds, follow-up mammograms, or biopsies, which may cause anxiety.