Mammography is a specific type of imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system for examining the breasts. The images of the breasts can be viewed on film at a view box or as soft copy on a digital mammography work station. Most medical experts agree that successful treatment of breast cancer often is linked to early diagnosis. Mammography plays a central part in early detection of breast cancers because it can show changes in the breast up to two years before a patient or physician can feel them. Current guidelines for Australian Women recommend a screening mammogram every 2 years from the age of 50. In women who have a family history or at at an increased risk it is recommended that screening start at age 40. If a women has had breast cancer then she is recommended to have yearly followup mammograms.

Mammography is used to aid in the diagnosis of breast diseases in women. Screening mammography can assist your physician in the detection of disease even if you have no complaints or symptoms. Initial mammographic images themselves are not always enough to determine the existence of a benign or malignant disease with certainty. If a finding or spot seems suspicious, your radiologist may recommend further diagnostic studies. Diagnostic mammography is used to evaluate a patient with abnormal clinical findings, such as a breast lump or lumps, that have been found by the woman or her doctor. Diagnostic mammography may also be done after an abnormal screening mammography in order to determine the cause of the area of concern on the screening exam.

During mammography, a specially qualified radiologic technologist will position you to image your breast. The breast is first placed on a special platform and compressed with a paddle made of clear plastic. Breast compression is necessary in order to even out the breast thickness so that all of the tissue can be visualized and spread out the tissue so that small abnormalities won't be obscured by overlying breast tissue. The technologist will go behind a glass shield while making the x-ray exposure, which will send a beam of x-rays through the breast to the image receptor behind the plate, thus exposing the film or digital receptor. You will be asked to change positions slightly between images. The routine views are a top-to-bottom view and an oblique side view. The process is repeated for the other breast. The examination process should take about half an hour. When the mammography is completed you will be asked to wait until the technologist examines the images to determine if more are needed.

Usually no specific preparation is required before hand. It is very important though for the patient to bring their old films with them. Being able to compare the current Mammogram images with any older studies in very important in the analysis of the images.

The effective radiation dose from a mammogram is low and is about the same as the average person receives from background radiation in three months. Women should always inform their doctor or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. Five percent to 15 percent of screening mammograms require more testing such as additional mammograms or ultrasound. Most of these tests turn out to be normal. If there is an abnormal finding a follow-up or biopsy may have to be performed. Most of the biopsies confirm that no cancer was present. It is estimated that a woman who has yearly mammograms between ages 40 and 49 has about a 30 percent chance of having a false-positive mammogram at some point in that decade and about a 7 percent to 8 percent chance of having a breast biopsy within the 10-year period. The estimate for false-positive mammograms is about 25 percent for women ages 50 or older.

A radiologist, who is a doctor experienced in mammography and other x-ray examinations, will analyze the images, describe any abnormalities, and suggest a likely diagnosis. The report will be dictated by the radiologist and then sent to your referring physician. You will also be notified of the results by the mammography facility. This notification is usually sent a few days after the official report goes to your doctor.