Transcript Mammography

Mammography
Linda Haun
Bryan Medical Center
Mammography Coordinator
Breast Health
• Breast Awareness
• Clinical Breast Exam
• Mammography
Breast Awareness
• Become familiar with
how your breasts
normally look and feel
so that if changes
occur, you can report
them to your doctor
right away.
• Breast Self-exams
Breast Self-Exams
• Check each breast all
over and include the
armpit. Use your finger
pads and move them in a
small circular motion
using different amounts of
pressure (light, medium,
and deep) to feel the
entire breast. Look at
your breast in front of a
mirror to check for any
changes in how your
breasts look or for
dimpling of the skin.
Breast Self-Exams
• Plan to examine your breasts at the same
time every month.
• If you think you have found a lump or
change, see your doctor. Most breast
lumps are not cancer, but you won’t know
if you don’t ask.
Clinical Breast Exams
• You’ll need to see your doctor or nurse for
a clinical breast exam. All women in their
20s and 30s should have a breast exam
as part of their regular health checkups at
least every 3 years.
• After the age of 40, have a breast exam
every year.
Mammogram
• Breast Cancer can
occur at any age, but
it is more likely to
occur after age 40
and as you get older.
• Bryan Medical Center
and The American
Cancer Society
advise you to have a
yearly mammogram
beginning at age 40.
What is a Screening Mammogram?
A screening mammogram is a safe,
low-dose x-ray of the breast used to
detect breast cancer early.
A mammogram can find breast
cancer that is too small for you or
your doctor to feel.
No one in my family has ever had
breast cancer. Do I still need a
mammogram?
It is true that family history is a risk
factor for breast cancer, but 85 percent
of women who get breast cancer have
no family history. All women should
take advantage of mammography
screening.
What should I expect when I get a
mammogram?
• Patient history
• Images are taken with compression. This is a
plastic paddle that comes down on the breast to
spread the tissue to an even density. This kind
of compression, while briefly uncomfortable, is
necessary for an accurate mammogram and
less radiation.
• Compression isn’t dangerous. It doesn’t
damage breast tissue in any way.
• Compression produces no long-term discomfort.
A trick to make it more comfortable
• The discomfort of bothersome, mild aching
can be relieved with Ibuprofen (Nurofen,
Advil, Motrin) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
if you’re not allergic to these medications.
• You may also consider using a Mammo
pad during the imaging.
• Eliminate or reduce caffeine prior to your
exam.
• Schedule your mammogram when breasts
are the least tender.
Digital Mammography
• All of the Bryan Medical
Center locations have full
field digital
mammography.
• 3D mammography
(tomosynthesis) is the
latest innovation that
developed out of digital
mammography. We
have this technology at
our Pine Lake Campus.
3D Principle of Operation
• X-ray tube moves in an
arc across the breast
Arc of motion of x-ray tube, showing
individual exposures
• A series of low dose
images are acquired
from different angles
• Projection images are
reconstructed into
1 mm slices
Reconstructed
Slices
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3UB0
oFgb64
{
Compression
Paddle
Compressed
Breast
Detector Housing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3UB0oFgb64
40% more
invasive
cancers
found over
2D
Mammography
Up to a
40%
reduction
in recall
rates,
decreasing
patient
anxiety
Better
visualization
of masses,
distortions
and
asymmetric
densities
Virtually
eliminates
overlapping
structures
in the
breast
After the Imaging
• The radiologist interprets your mammogram,
usually using computer aided detection (CAD).
It is a sophisticated tool that assists radiologists
by providing a computerized second review of
your mammogram.
• It’s like a spell check for medicine.
• Your physician gets the medical report and you
get the results in terms you can understand.
Take a few minutes for a lifetime