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Importance of mammography
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A mammogram is by far the
most accurate and useful for diagnosing
diseases of the mammary gland, before it
is palpable.
The evaluation of the breast using X-ray
examinations, both for detection and for
diagnosis, is well established at
present. Because there is concern that
exposure to X-rays could cause some
disruption in the normal breast tissue
and the development of a malignancy, it
should balance the potential benefits
against undesirable. However, women 35
years or older should be subjected to
one or more mammograms in the presence
of risk factors, and women older than 50
years should be tested annually.
Risk factors for malignant disease of
the breast are: late age of first
childbirth, older age, early puberty,
the other breast carcinoma, late
menopause, breast disease pre-malignant,
malignant disease in other organs of the
body, use of estrogen (hormones),
obesity, etc..
On balance, the percentage that can
cause malignant disease by exposure to
X-ray is less important than the chance
of saving lives through early diagnosis.
This is done entirely on older women, so
in this group of women the benefit of
early diagnosis is proven better than in
younger women.
Modern mammography equipment uses very
low doses of radiation, which are used
for higher doses and side to obtain a
screening. It is recommended to advise
the patient to take the exam in
institutions dedicated to the review or
practice where radiologists are
specializing in this technique. The
screening mammography is highly accurate
with an error rate below 10%. In this
test 45% of the malignancies were
detected by mammography, and 55% were
discovered by physical examination, but
of these only 10% are positive.
Therefore a thorough examination of the
breast requires palpation, mammography
and biopsy if any of these tests is
positive. Before a biopsy is mandatory
mammography, which increases the
diagnostic accuracy and the possibility
of another disease in the breast or the
other side
Mammography screening is indicated in
women 35 to 40 years, an examination
every one to two years in women between
40 and 50 years and an annual review for
over 50 years.
For the specific diagnosis of breast
problems, mammography is indicated in
many different situations. When there is
suspicion of cancer must perform no
matter the age of the patient or the
presence of a pregnancy. The shadows
that appear questionable in the
examination will be controlled after 3
to 6 months to determine the progress of
the injury. Whenever a patient shows a
mass in the breast, a mammogram is
indicated order, even if the mass is not
palpated by the physician.
