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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffMammography is X-ray imaging of your breasts designed to detect tumors and other abnormalities. Mammography can be used either for screening or for diagnostic purposes in evaluating a breast lump:
- Screening mammography. Screening mammography is used to detect breast changes in women who have no signs or symptoms or observable breast abnormalities. The goal is to detect cancer before any clinical signs are noticeable. This usually requires at least two mammograms from different angles of each breast.
- Diagnostic mammography. Diagnostic mammography is used to investigate suspicious breast changes, such as a breast lump, breast pain, an unusual skin appearance, nipple thickening or nipple discharge. It's also used to evaluate abnormal findings on a screening mammogram. Additional images can be made from other angles or focus on areas of concern at higher magnification.
When to begin screening mammography
Experts don't agree on when women should begin regular mammograms or how often the tests should be performed. Your doctor can recommend a screening mammography schedule for you.
Some general guidelines for when to begin screening mammography include:
- If you have an average risk of breast cancer, discuss when to begin mammograms with your doctor. Many women begin mammograms at age 40 and have them every one to two years. Professional groups differ on their recommendations, with most, including the American Cancer Society, advising women with an average risk to begin mammograms at age 40 and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommending women wait until age 50 to begin regular mammograms.
- If you have a high risk of breast cancer, you may benefit by beginning screening mammograms before age 40. Talk to your doctor for an individualized program. Your risk factors and your degree of breast density may lead your doctor to recommend magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combination with mammograms.
- Mammograms and other breast imaging procedures. American Cancer Society. Accessed Aug. 4, 2009.
- Screening mammograms: Questions and answers. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/screening-mammograms. Accessed Aug. 4, 2009.
- Tice JA, et al. Screening and prevention of breast cancer in primary care. Journal of Primary Care. 2009;36:533.
- Venkataraman S. Breast imaging: Mammography and ultrasonography. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 4, 2009.
- Fletcher SW. Screening for breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 4, 2009.
- Esserman LJ, et al. Diagnostic evaluation of women with suspected breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 4, 2009.
- American Cancer Society guidelines for the early detection of cancer. American Cancer Society. Accessed Aug. 4, 2009.
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for breast cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2009;151:716.
