Screening mammography for early detection in asymptomatic women
- Uses low-dose X-rays to produce images of breast tissue
- Recommended for women aged 40-74 years
- Benefits include early detection of breast cancer, reduced mortality, and improved treatment outcomes
- Limitations include false positives, radiation exposure, and overdiagnosis
Diagnostic mammography for palpable lump or symptoms
- Uses higher-resolution images to examine breast tissue in more detail
- Recommended for women with palpable lumps or symptoms such as pain or nipple discharge
- Benefits include accurate diagnosis, reduced unnecessary biopsies, and improved treatment planning
- Limitations include radiation exposure, false positives, and overdiagnosis
Findings like masses, calcifications, architectural distortion
- Masses: lumps or thickening in the breast tissue
- Calcifications: calcium deposits in the breast tissue
- Architectural distortion: abnormal shape or structure of the breast tissue
- These findings may indicate breast cancer, but also have other causes such as fibrocystic changes or benign tumors
Indications for high-risk and symptomatic patients
- High-risk patients: women with a family history of breast cancer, genetic mutations (BRCA1/2), or previous radiation exposure
- Symptomatic patients: women with palpable lumps or symptoms such as pain or nipple discharge
- These patients require more frequent mammography and may benefit from additional imaging modalities such as ultrasound or MRI
Limitations in dense breasts and young females
- Dense breast tissue: makes it harder to detect breast cancer on mammograms
- Young females: breast tissue is denser and more prone to false positives
- In these cases, additional imaging modalities such as ultrasound or MRI may be recommended
Difference between screening and diagnostic mammography
- Screening mammography: used for early detection in asymptomatic women
- Diagnostic mammography: used for examining breast tissue in more detail for women with palpable lumps or symptoms