Mammography

Mammography is a non-invasive radiographic procedure which enables the entire breast tissue to be examined. It is most often used for the diagnosis or screening of breast cancer.

Malignancy may be indicated by:

• spiculated lesions with ill-defined margins
• asymmetric areas of density and distortion
• skin thickening
• circumscribed lesions with well or poorly defined margins
• calcifications - variable in size, distribution, form, or density

However:

• approximately 5% of clinically palpable carcinomas are not detectable
• the method is less accurate in women below the age of 35 years, whom have more dense breasts
• successive mammograms incur a cumulative radiation dose which in itself may be carcinogenic

Reference

1. Gov.co.uk NHS breast screening (BSP) programme. November 2023 (online)