Mammographic Abnormalities

A normal Mammogram

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast

Usually you take 2 x-ray views of each breast

cc view

ml view

Mammogram

This mammogram is called the craniocaudad -cc- view (taken in the up and down position)

This mammogram is called the mediolateral -ml- view (taken in the sideways position)

For more information on how to prepare for your mammogram please see, Visiting the Breast Doc

The technician will try to place as much of the breast as possible between the x-ray plates on the mammogram machine so that there will be a picture as far back as the chest wall muscles.

Examination

Chest wall muscle

Chest Wall Muscle

Who should have a mammogram?

All women age 40 and over should have a mammogram every year.

Women who have a strong family history of breast cancer in a first degree relative such as a mother, sister, or daughter, should discuss with their physician obtaining a mammogram earlier. As a rule of thumb, I recommend that if your first degree relative had breast cancer at an early age -- when she was still menstruating, that a baseline mammogram be performed 10 years before that relative was diagnosed.

(For instance, if your mom had breast cancer when she was 45 years old, you should have a baseline mammogram at the age of 35).

Why is it not recommended to have mammograms
at a young age?

Dense mammogram in a young woman

Younger women tend to have very dense breast tissue and this shows up as white tissue and therefore hard to read ! There is usually little fat to see any contrast. Take a look here at a woman with very dense tissue. See how hard it would be to find an abnormality. It is likened to finding a polar bear in winter.

Breast size does not influence the risk of breast cancer. It may be harder to perform a mammogram on a small breasted woman, but small or large, breast cancer doesn't discriminate.

If an abnormality is found on the mammogram, the mammographer (who is a radiologist who reads the films) may ask for special views to clarify the spot. This means more films. Don't panic since most abnormalities are benign (i.e. noncancerous).

Onto Calcifications and Masses