BREAST DISEASE INVESTIGATIONS
March 23rd, 2009 | Posted by admin | Category: Women's HealthNo Comments
Mammography. This is an x-ray technique for imaging the breasts. The breasts are placed between two x-ray plates, and ‘photographed’, using x-ray beams. Having your breasts flattened between these plates can be uncomfortable, but most women tolerate the procedure very well. The amount of radiation is very small, and the technique is regarded as a safe means of assessing the internal architecture of the breasts.
Mammograms are interpreted by specialist radiologists. Experience and expertise in this field has developed over the last twenty years or so, and more is being understood about the benefits and limitations of this investigation. Its usefulness is greatest in its ability to identify changes in the breast tissue which suggest cancerous change. These include microcalcification (which may also be a sign of benign change), a mass, or distortion of the breast tissue. Seeing these changes may mean that a lump has a high chance of being malignant, and this can be very helpful in planning management. Another benefit of mammograms is that other, smaller or less easily felt lesions in the same breast or the other side may be identified, ft is not uncommon to have more than one area
of breast cancer.
Mammograms are being used in some centres for screening women over the ages of 40 or 50 who have no specific lumps. The reason behind this is that it seems that early diagnosis and treatment is likely to improve the overall outcome in breast cancer. Its usefulness and value as a screening procedure is being tested by large trials in many centres around the world.
Mammograms are not always helpful. For example, the breast tissue of women under the age of 40 or so is usually dense, and interpreting mammograms in this age group is less reliable. Some women have dense breasts all their lives, and this can make mammography in these women more difficult to interpret. A negative mammogram is never a ‘100 per cent all clear’.
If a woman has a breast lump, and a negative mammogram (not suggestive of cancer), the lump should still be examined further.
Ultrasound. This technique can be helpful in diagnosing some breast lumps. Its usefulness is really in defining if a particular lump is solid or cystic.
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