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Mammography is a method of examining the mammary glands in women using a reduced dose of x-rays.
Why do you need a mammogram?
Detection of changes in gland tissues, early detection of tumors, breast cancer, inflammatory diseases of the mammary gland.
How is mammography performed?
Mammography is performed in a special room, using a machine (mammograph) for examining the mammary glands with a minimal dose of x-ray radiation.
The examination is carried out on days 5–12 of the menstrual cycle, when the breasts are least painful.
Women in menopause undergo mammography at any convenient time.
The breast is placed between two plates. The images are taken with slight compression of the mammary gland. They do this in order to get better quality pictures. There may be some slight pain during a mammogram. Usually two pictures of each gland are taken. In some cases (if there are scars on the chest after surgery), additional photographs are taken.
Mammography reveals
- Malignant neoplasms. The patient is referred for consultation to an oncologist
- Mastopathy. There are more than 50 types of mastopathy. About 42% of women are diagnosed with mastopathy during examination. Close attention is paid to two of them:
- mastopathy without atypical cells and proliferation;
- mastopathy with atypical cells and proliferation.
- Cysts. Unlike a tumor, a cyst is a hollow formation filled with intracystic fluid. Therefore, it is clearly visible in photographs. Also, mammography often reveals fatty cysts, which are mostly harmless, but can cause pain if they grow larger.
- Calcifications. This is the concentration of calcium salts in the breast tissue. They cannot be felt by palpation, but are clearly visible on ammography. Small calcifications indicate the activity of breast tissue cells.
- Fibroadenoma of the breast. Refers to benign neoplasms. Formed from healthy cells. Requires surgery only if the size increases significantly. Most often, patients with fibroadenoma are invited to regular consultations with a mammologist and periodic mammography.
Informativeness of mammography and its limits
The method has proven itself to be excellent for detecting breast cancer in the early stages. The diagnosis of breast cancer is determined in 85% of cases; in 45%, mammography reveals signs of a tumor at the earliest stages.
At the same time, if the doctor sees some lumps and the mammography data is normal, they do a biopsy.
It is very important to compare images over several years. The reliability of the method decreases if the breasts are small. The study is not carried out in young women who have an implant.
Preparing for a mammogram
There is no special training. You should not use powders (talc) or deodorants before a mammogram, as they may complicate the diagnosis.
Complications with mammography
Acceptable minimal exposure to x-rays occurs. The method does not cause complications.