Screening Mammography
Screening Mammography
A screening mammogram is for people who have no breast cancer symptoms. This screening test can help us find anything too small or too deep to feel.
During a screening mammogram, your breasts are compressed between two firm surfaces to spread out the tissue. Then, an X-ray machine sends a small amount of radiation through your breasts to produce 2 images of each breast. These images are looked at by a board-certified breast radiologist.
Studies show that the most lives are saved if you are screened every year beginning at age 40. If your risk of getting breast cancer is above average, you may need to get screened earlier than age 40. Your physician will help you create a screening plan based on your personal and family history.
Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), or three-dimensional (3-D) mammography, produces many images of the breast from different angles. You will not notice a difference from your usual mammography experience, as it still requires compression of the breast. However, the information we get from this type of mammogram allows the breast radiologist to detect cancer more easily. In addition, fewer patients must come back for additional unnecessary testing.