Mammography

What is Mammography?

Mammography refers to X-ray imaging of the breast area. It is mainly done for the screening of breast cancer or to investigate the results presented by other imaging tests. Depending upon the requirement, the health care provider can suggest any of the two types of mammograms- diagnostic and screening mammograms.

Why are Mammograms Done?

Mammograms play an important role in early detection of breast cancer even before there are any signs or symptoms of the same in a person. Depending upon its type, mammograms serve different purposes.

• Screening Mammogram: This type of mammography helps in early detection of cancerous changes in the breast tissue. Its main goal is to detect cancer early when its less dangerous.
• Diagnostic Mammogram: Diagnostic Mammography is done mainly after a screening mammogram to evaluate any unexpected findings presented by the same. It involves additional mammogram images for investigating the suspicious breast changes.
• 3D Mammogram: Also known as tomosynthesis, 3D mammography is mainly used in conjunction with 2d mammography. It gives 3D images of the breast from different angles that help in examining the different layers of breast tissue, thus giving higher visibility.  

What are the risks of Mammography?

There are several limitations and risks associated with mammography that can be enlisted as follows:

• Exposure to low dose radiation: Since the dose is very low, this risk of mammograms is far lesser than the benefits offered by this procedure.
• Additional testing: In case something unexpected crops up in mammography, your doctor may prescribe additional tests like ultrasound or biopsy for further investigation.
• Not all cancers can be detected by screening Mammograms: There are some cancers that can only be diagnosed by physical examination rather than mammograms. The cancer may also be missed if it is small or present in an area that is difficult to view such as armpit.
• Not all cancers detected by the mammography are curable

What to expect during the test?

During the tests, a person is given a gown and made to remove all neck jewelry and clothes from the testing area. After this, he or she has to stand in front of a special mammography machine where the breasts are placed on the platform which is then adjusted as per your height. The position of head, torso and arms are also positioned in such a way that it gives an unobstructed view of the breast area. The breast is then pressed gradually by a clear plastic plate. During the test procedure, the person needs to stand still and hold his or her breath. After the imaging is done, the quality of the images is checked. If they are considered to be inadequate, the procedure may be repeated again. Post procedure, regular activities may be resumed.

Where can you get mammography done in Delhi/NCR?

If you are looking to get mammography done in Delhi/NCR region, Accord Hospital is the place to be. This state of the art medical facility offers accurate high quality imaging in one convenient location along with technologists with extensive expertise of the field. Some of the most innovative imaging technology available in the field of diagnostics can be done here. For any further queries, request an appointment today.