The simple mammography has now been replaced by the digital or the digitized mammography, which has a higher resolution and diagnostic value, while radiation is also significantly reduced as the repetitive imaging is reduced with the digitization.
The difference between digital and digitized imaging is that the digitization of the image in digital mammography is performed inside the mammography scanner, while in the digitized mammography it is performed by an external digitizer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mammography should be repeated every year.
Starting age
According to the guidelines of ACR (American College of Radiology) and of the World Health Organization (WHO), the recommended age for the first mammography is 40 years, with a repetition of the examination every year. More particularly, for women that do not present any symptoms, the following shall apply:
- Women over 20 years old should examine themselves once a month.
- Women between 35 – 37 years old should undergo mammography for reference purposes.
- Women over 40 years old, should undergo digital mammography once a year.
- Women with a family history of breast cancer, should begin their mammography checking, at an age of 10 years less than the age at which the disease occurred to their relative, (that is, if the disease occurred to the mother when she was 40 years old, the daughter should begin mammography checks at the age of 30 years).
The exception to this rule are high-risk women:
- With a positive family history (mother, sister who suffered from the disease before menopause)
- Personal breast cancer history that occurred before the age of 40 years.
- Persons with detected alterations in the BRCA1/2 genes.
- People that have been radiated in the chest at an age of less than 18 years.
- Women with biopsy of atypical epithelial and atypical lobular hyperplasia.
- Patients with established syndrome li fraumeni, etc .
Women that belong in the above cases should follow the control that is determined by the attending doctors.
Due to the young age of many women under 40 years of age, that were affected by breast cancer, it is recommended that a reference mammography is performed at an age of 35 years.
There is no exception for women who have silicone implants for aesthetic or therapeutic reasons (reconstruction following mastectomy due to CA); however, these women should inform the technician for the existence of implants, so that the regulations of the mammography scanner are properly adjusted in order for the examination to be properly performed and read.
Follow these instructions and the advice of your doctor. They will relieve you from risks regarding your health and great trouble and suffering.
Which is the most appropriate period for the conduction of the test?
The most appropriate period for the conduction of the examination is between the 7th and the 15th day of the menstrual cycle.
Does mammography hurt?
The pressure that is applied during the mammography examination is quite tolerable by women, however it is absolutely necessary for the reduction of radiation and the optimal imaging of the gland, aiming at the correct assessment.
- Complementary imaging and invasive methods.
- Breast MRI
- Breast Ultrasound Elastography
- Performance of needle guided biopsy with thin or thick needle (FNA, core biopsy )
- Detection of non palpable lesions (with the use of mammography and ultrasound)
Digital mammography is a luxury... It can, however, save your life!