Mammography|Mammograms.

What is a mammogram. A mammogram, or mammography as it is also called, is part of the breast screening and diagnostic procedure to rule out breast cancer. It is low dose X-ray imaging to detect any abnormality in the breast tissue and a vital tool in breast cancer diagnosis.

Mammography Screening.

Screening mammograms are done as a normal screening procedure in women who have no symptoms or signs of breast cancer. In this procedure, two X-rays are taken of each breast — a head to foot view and a side angled view. Mammograms make it possible to detect tumors which are not felt on breast examination. Mammograms can detect even micro calcifications and small lumps which could indicate breast cancer. Results are obtained on film.

Risks of Mammograms for Screening.

• Exposure to low dose radiation. Repeated exposure every year or so can result in over exposure.
• False Negative Results. This means that the results of mammogram may be normal even though breast cancer is present. 20% of mammogram results are false negatives. This happens in dense breasts. A dense breast contains more of glandular tissue and connective tissue which appear similar to a tumor on an x-ray film, thereby leading the radiologist to miss the tumor.
• False Positive Results. This occurs when a tumor is diagnosed on the mammogram even though it is not present. All abnormal reports therefore need to be confirmed by additional tests such as diagnostic mammograms, ultrasound and biopsy. False positive results are seen in younger women, women who are on estrogen as in post menopausal treatment and in women who have undergone breast biopsy before.
• Screening mammograms cannot detect all tumors. Failure rate is about 20%.
• Cure rate is not 100%. Some tumors diagnosed on mammography can cause death. This is true of fast growing and aggressive tumors.

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