Who should get a Mammogram?

The American College of Radiology currently recommends every woman between the age of 35 and 40 should undergo a baseline mammogram. After 40, every woman should get annual screening mammograms. We suggest that you talk to your doctor about when to start screening mammography, especially if you are at high risk for breast cancer.

How will I get the results?

We understand that anxiety may be associated with waiting for your results. Most studies are interpreted within the same day as the exam. Sometimes, prior studies need to be obtained in order for the radiologist to compare them with your most recent exam to detect any subtle changes. We will mail a copy of your mammogram report to both you and your physician.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

• Women older than age 40, especially older than 50.
• Personal history of breast cancer.
• Mother, daughter and/or sister with breast cancer; the risk increases if these relatives had cancer before menopause. When several close relatives have developed breast cancer before menopause, the risk may be as high as 50 percent.
• Long menstrual history (menstrual periods that started early and ended late in life)

What is Mammography?

Screening Mammography is an x-ray of an asymptomatic woman’s breast (no complaints or symptoms of breast cancer). Screening mammography involves taking x-ray views of each breast, typically from above (cranial-caudal view, CC) and from an oblique or angled view (mediolateral-oblique, MLO). The goal of screening mammography is to detect cancer when it is still too small to be felt by a woman or her physician. The appearance of the breast on a mammogram varies tremendously from woman to woman, and no two mammograms are alike. It is extremely helpful for the radiologist to have the films (not just the report) available from previous examinations for comparison purposes. This will help the doctor recognize small changes that occur gradually over time and detect cancer as early as possible.

Early detection of small breast cancers by screening mammography greatly improves a woman’s chances for successful treatment. Thus, it is essential for women 40 years of age and older to get a mammogram each year and to have current mammograms compared to previous ones.

Diagnostic Mammography is an x-ray exam of the breasts that is performed in order to evaluate a breast complaint or abnormality that has been detected by a physical exam or routine screening mammography. Diagnostic mammograms typically include the cranio-caudal view (CC), the mediolateral oblique view (MLO), and supplemental views tailored to the specific problem.

The goal of diagnostic mammography is to characterize a breast abnormality. In many cases, diagnostic mammography will help show that the abnormality is highly likely to be non-cancerous, or benign.

What if I am called back for additional views?

A routine mammogram calls for two views of each breast. Sometimes, tissue can overlap simulating a mass. In these cases, you may be called back for additional, special views with added compression and different angles of imaging to determine if there is really an abnormal mass present. Additionally, sometimes calcifications are visualized which may require further imaging to determine if a biopsy is needed. Being asked to come back for additional views does not necessarily mean a cancer is present. Much more often than not, no abnormality is found to be present.

Exam Preparation for Mammograms

It is best not to schedule your mammogram for the week before your menstrual period if your breasts are usually tender during that time. The best time to have a mammogram is one week following your period. Additionally, the American College of Radiology ( ACR) recommends that you:

• Do not wear deodorant, talcum powder or lotion under your arms or on your breasts on the day of the exam as these products can appear on the mammogram as calcium spots.
• Describe any breast symptoms or problems to the technologist performing the exam.
• If possible, obtain prior mammograms and make them available to the radiologist at the time of the current exam.
• Ask when your results will be available; do not assume the results are normal if you do not hear from your doctor or the mammogram facility.
• Do not wear jewelry during your exam.

If possible, obtain all of your prior mammograms if they were performed at a different facility.