Mammography

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Mammography is the National Cancer Institute

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Summary

A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. It can be used to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. It can also be used if you have a lump or other sign of breast cancer.

Screening mammography is the type of mammogram that checks you when you have no symptoms. It can help reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer among women ages 40 to 70. But it can also have drawbacks. Mammograms can sometimes find something that looks abnormal but isn't cancer. This leads to further testing and can cause you anxiety. Sometimes mammograms can miss cancer when it is there. It also exposes you to radiation. You should talk to your doctor about the benefits and drawbacks of mammograms. Together, you can decide when to start and how often to have a mammogram.

Mammograms are also recommended for younger women who have symptoms of breast cancer or who have a high risk of the disease.

When you have a mammogram, you stand in front of an x-ray machine. The person who takes the x-rays places your breast between two plastic plates. The plates press your breast and make it flat. This may be uncomfortable, but it helps get a clear picture. You should get a written report of your mammogram results within 30 days.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Start Here

Mammograms (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
Mammograms (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)Also in Spanish
Mammography (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
What Is a Mammogram and When Should I Get One? (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

Mammography and Other Screening Tests for Breast Problems (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF

Related Issues

Accuracy of Mammograms (Susan G. Komen for the Cure)
Dense Breasts (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)Also in Spanish
Dense Breasts: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions (National Cancer Institute)Also in Spanish
Mammography for Women with Breast Implants (American Cancer Society)Also in Spanish
Mammography: What You Need to Know (Food and Drug Administration)Also in Spanish
Nipple Aspirate Test Is Not An Alternative To Mammography (Food and Drug Administration)Also in Spanish
Thermogram No Substitute for Mammogram (Food and Drug Administration)Also in Spanish
What Does the Doctor Look for on a Mammogram? (American Cancer Society)Also in Spanish

Specifics

Breast Tomosynthesis (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)Also in Spanish
Frequently Asked Questions about Digital Mammography (Food and Drug Administration)
Galactography (Ductography) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)Also in Spanish
Scintimammography (Breast Specific Gamma Imaging-BSGI) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)Also in Spanish