| Mammography |
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| Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. More than 180,000 new cases are reported each year with more than 40,000 deaths. In the United States a womens risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime is one in eight. Thr risk of breast cancer increases with age and family history. Other risk factors include non childbearing and late childbearing women, late menopause, early onset of first period, obesity, and other gynological cancers. The greatest cure rates > 95% are in women with local disease. Only 20% of patients with metastatic disease survive greater than 5 years. Cure rates in Afro-American women are less than white women, making early detection even more critical. |
| Mammography is the best tool available for early detection of breast cancer, particularly when combined with patient monthly self breast exams. Mammography, although not foolproof, can detect greater than 70% of cancers. Detection of early, curable breast cancers is our goal at Millburn Medical Imaging. |
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| Mammography is xray exam dedicated to high resolution images of the breast. Mammography has progressed significantly during the last decade and is considered the best method of screening for breast cancer. It is inexpensive and safe. During mammography you will be asked to stand in front of the machine above. The mammo technologist will place your breast on the machine and compress the breast with a plastic plate. This compression will be tender but should not hurt. The compression is necessary to press the tissues to obtain a good image. Typically the breast will be "squeezed" for less than 30 seconds. |
| To the right you see an example of a mammo image. The grey areas represent normal fat, and the white areas normal fibrous and glandular tissue. The job of the radiologists is to differentiate the normal background tissue from cancers which might appear as small white areas on the film. The compression ensures that areas of breast tissue will not overlap so small cancers may be spotted. The technologist is specially trained to obtain a good image of the breast while ensuring that the exam is not painful . A normal exam consists of two xrays of each breast, but sometimes the technologist will take additional xrays over an area of interest. This does not mean that anything is wrong. Additional views are needed if the tissues overlap in certain areas to be sure that a small cancer is not covered. |
| What is a Mammogram? Who needs a Mammogram? When is the best time for my mammo? Who will perform the mammo? What about the Results? Preparation Mammo Safety Breast Implants Breast Ultrasound |
| Most medical organizations agree that a baseline (first) mammogram, should be performed between the ages of 35 and 40. Beginning at age 40 mammography is usually performed yearly or every other year, higher in those patients with increased risk. After age 50 mammography is routinely performed at yearly intervals. Mammography may be used in younger patients with a palpable mass, but is not ordered routinely for screening in young women. |
| As the compression part of the exam may be tender, the best time to have mammogram is when the breasts are at their least tender . This usually occurs several days after the menstrual cycle ends, but this may vary, and each individual should pick her most appropriate time. Remember...The more that the technologist can compress, the better the exam and the better the chance of discovering a small cancer. Having your exam at a time where you can tolerate the most compression makes good sense. |
| Mammography is performed by a registered xray technologist with additional training in mammography. These technologists receive special certification. They are required to continue their education in mammography with mandated courses required to keep them abreast of the lastest developments in technique, diagnosis, and patient comfort. |
| Mammography is interpreted by a radiologist, a licensed physician with additional training in mammography. The physicians must show proficiency in reading mammograms as well as maintaining educational credits. The physicians must follow strict govermental guidelines in reading the exam and checking for quality. The equipment must be maintained to strict specifications. At MMI we take pride in the quality of our mammography exams and the number of small cancers that we find every year. Every mammography center in the United States must be Accredited, and MMI received our most recent 3 year accreditation in May, 2002. We will be adding a new Mammo machine in July 2002. |
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| In most cases the radiologist will read your mammogram the same day. Sometimes, if your exam as taken when no radiologist is present, the mammogram will be interpreted the following work day. Some women prefer to have their mammograms performed when the radiologist is present. To allow for a prompt interpretation it is important that you bring your recent mammograms if they were taken at another center or hospital. Comparison with your previous exams is one of the important tools that we use in mammography. After your exam has been interpreted by the radiologist you will be handed or mailed a letter stating the results of the exam. This will be either normal or abnormal. You may be asked to return to MMI for additional imaging, either more mammograms or breast ultrasound. In most cases these return visits are used to prove that an unusual area on the mammogram is actually normal tissue. |
| For your comfort, we recommend that you schedule your exam after the first day of your menstrual cycle. You may prefer to wear a two piece outfit so you only need to change your clothes from the waist up. Please do not use talcum powder, perfume, skin cream, or deodorant in the breast or armpit areas on the day of the exam. |
| These return visits will always be performed when a radiologist is present so you can ask questions and have the piece of mind of knowing your results immediately. If you are told that your mammogram is abnormal this does not mean that you have cancer. Many abnormalities on mammography turn out to be benign, or non-cancerous. A recommendation will be made to you and your physician. You may be referred to a breast surgeon for consultation. All abnormal mammograms need to be evaluated further to be sure that you do not have breast cancer. If you are told that your mammogram is normal this does not mean that you are absolutely free of breast cancer. Mammography is approximately 85% accurate which means that we may still miss 15 out of every 100 cancers. Some cancers are too small to be visualized. If you or your physician feel a lump and your mammogram is normal you may still be referred for additional testing to be sure that no cancer is missed. |
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| Apprehension about radiation is both prudent and normal. During the past 20 years dramatic changes in equipment, film, and both technologist and physician training have accounted for a marked decrease in radiation dose during mammography. There has been no evidence that screening mammography increases the risk of developing breast cancer, and balanced against the benefits of early detection, the risks can be said to be quite low. |
| The presence of breast implants does present some unusual challenges to mammography. Instead of the usual 2 views of each breast, four views are usually taken. Two standard views plus two views with the implants pushed out of the way. This should not cause any problems with the implants. It is important to take these extra views as the implants may hide any abnormal tissue. Mammography may also be helpful in evaluating possible abnormalities with the implants. |
| Breast ultrasound may be requested by your physician or your radiologist. An ultrasound is an image of the breast produced with sound waves. No xrays are involved and there is no compression required as is needed during mammography. Ultrasound is very helpful in differentiating solid possibly suspicious masses seen on mammo from benign non-worrysome cysts. Unfortunately, ultrasound is not a replacement for mammography as a screening test. Ultrasound will not see many of the cancers that we are trying to find with mammography. Your doctors will explain to you why ultrasound may be helpful in your case. |
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| 2130 Millburn Avenue (973) 912-0404 Maplewood, N.J. 07040 |
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