Mammograms are a type of breast cancer screening test using low doses of radiation. These tests are important for detecting changes in breast tissue that may signal cancer, although there are some risks and disadvantages to the procedure. A woman should discuss mammograms with her doctor to determine an appropriate screening schedule.
Purpose
The main use of mammograms is as a screening test to detect breast cancer before it has fully developed or spread. Most medical organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the American Medical Association, recommend that all women older than age 40 get yearly mammograms to screen for cancer and that women at high risk for breast cancer begin screenings earlier per their doctor's instructions, according to RadiologyInfo.org. In addition to screening, mammograms can be used as a diagnostic test to investigate a problem in the breast that was found by the patient or doctor, such as a breast lump or abnormal nipple discharge.
Process
The mammography machine works by producing X-rays that pass through the breast tissue. These rays are recorded by a photographic film or digital plate and then printed out or viewed on a computer for analysis. The results of the test are generally delivered a few days or weeks after the mammogram and are interpreted by a radiologist in consultation with the woman's doctor.
Procedure
During a mammogram, the breast is first placed on a flat platform and compressed while the patient stands or sits in front of the machine. This compression feels uncomfortable or painful to some women. Next, the radiologist will go into a separate room or behind a protective screen and turn on the machine. Since X-ray images need to be taken from a few different angles to provide complete coverage of the breast, the patient may have to change position during the mammogram. The entire process takes about 30 minutes.
Risks
According to the National Cancer Institute, there is a small risk of harm from radiation damage during a mammogram. This risk, however, is low since the levels of radiation given off by mammography equipment are small and the machinery is designed to limit the radiation exposure only to the breast under examination. The risk of false-negatives, in which an existing cancerous tumor is missed during a mammogram, is about 20 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute. The incidence of false negatives, however, decreases as a woman ages. According to RadiologyInfo.org, between 5 and 15 percent of mammograms give a false-positive result, which leads to unnecessary biopsies and further testing as well as stress and worry for the woman.
Controversy
Recently, controversy has arisen about the age guidelines for mammograms. According to MayoClinic.com, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued new suggested guidelines increasing the age when women should have their first mammogram from 40 to 50, changing the recommended one to two years between exams to a set two years and stating that women older than 75 should cease having regular mammograms. The American Cancer Society and MayoClinic.com continue to recommend that women have annual screenings beginning at age 40.
