A mammogram is an X-ray examination of the breasts, used to detect and diagnose breast diseases. Mammography is considered the most effective tool for early breast tumor detection. Most medical experts agree that successful treatment of breast cancer often is linked to early diagnosis. Mammography plays a central part in the early detection of breast cancer because it can show changes in the breast up to two years before a patient or physician can feel them.
Mammography is a very safe procedure that uses low doses of radiation to produce high quality X-ray images of the breast. Screening mammography is used as a preventive measure for women who have no symptoms of breast disease.
A screening mammogram usually involves two views of each breast. Diagnostic mammography involves additional views of the breast and is used when an abnormality is found during screening, or in women who have breast complaints, such as a breast mass, nipple discharge, breast pain, or skin irritation.
Medical Arts Radiology features digital mammography, which uses computers and specially-designed digital detectors to produce an image that can be displayed on a high-resolution computer monitor and transmitted and stored just like computer files.
Unlike film-based mammography, digital mammograms produce images that appear on the technologist’s monitor in a matter of seconds. There is no waiting for film to develop, which can mean a shorter time spent in the breast imaging suite.
3D Mammograms (Breast Tomosynthesis)
Medical Arts Radiology also offers breast tomosynthesis to create 3D images of the breast. 3D mammography using tomosynthesis is an advanced technology that can help find cancers earlier or find cancers that may be missed with 2D mammography. 3D mammograms offer increased diagnostic accuracy, reducing false-positive results that 2D mammograms can sometimes produce.