Mammography

Mammography is one of the simplest, most effective and informative techniques of early diagnostics of breast cancer. Mammography is performed using the special X-ray machine that allows to reveal the most significant changes in the mammary gland structure which can be a signal that a clarifying diagnostics or treatment is required.

Mammography is a standard screening procedure aimed at prevention and early detection of oncological and other diseases of a mammary gland.

Mammography as a screening diagnostic method is recommended once a year, starting from the age of 40. Mammography can detect tumors of any nature, the size of which is measured in microns.

What equipment do we use

Dobrobut clinic chain uses modern highly precise equipment by the American manufacturer Hologic Selenia Demensions and Alpha ST for the mammography screening of mammary glands.

Hologic Selenia Demensions mammograph is a breakthrough in medical engineering. As the machine can directly transform X-ray scanning into a digital image, the equipment allows to obtain the most contrasted 3D images.

The Alpha ST/R mammography system is a modern system with advanced features and a built-in generator designed for diagnostics and screening.

The devices provide safe diagnostics with minimal X-ray radiation. Thanks to the design of the mammographs, the examination is as comfortable as possible for the woman.

Description of mammography procedure

Mammography is a screening diagnostic procedure that every woman over 40 has to undergo annually.

Besides, mammography can be prescribed as a diagnostic technique for the women under 40 if they belong to the risk group as for oncology (breast cancer of close female relatives).

The procedure lasts up to 30 minutes.

Symptoms that can be indications for mammography:

• lumps in a mammary gland,
• pain in mammary glands,
• change of dimensions of a mammary gland,
• discharge from nipples,
• lymphadenopathy of axillary nodes.

Referral for diagnostics is NOT required for women:

• starting from the age of 40
• starting from 35 years of age for patients with a burdened family history of cancer (known breast cancer in the family)

Referral is REQUIRED and mammography is considered diagnostic for

• women under 40 years of age
• women under 35 years of age with a burdened history
• men 

How mammography is performed:

1. To undergo a mammogram, the diagnosing doctor will ask you to expose your breast and place the breast on the lower plate of the mammography machine. An experienced doctor will help determine the required height of the plate so that the procedure does not cause discomfort. 
2. The second part of the device is lowered from above to provide a tight compression of the breast, which is necessary to obtain a clear image of the ducts and tissue structure.
3. The device creates images, the results of which will be explained by the doctor.
   After the examination, you will receive a conclusion and a film with the results. To get additional explanations on the results of the examination, we recommend that you consult a mammologist.

The procedure itself is painless, however, some patients can feel discomfort and pain feelings if there are inflammatory processes in the mammary gland (mastitis or mastopathy), there are cysts or fibroses in its structure, and also if the wrong day of cycle was chosen for the procedure.

Sometimes a doctor may set a wrong mammograph height that may also cause pain feelings in the neck and shoulders; you should tell this to a diagnostician before the procedure.

Mammography can be performed at any day of the menstrual cycle, however, in certain cases a doctor can recommend it in the beginning of the cycle (from the 5th to the 14th day of menstruation).

Reading of the results

Reading of the results is the most important part of diagnostics. Health and sometimes the life of a woman depends on the experience of the diagnostician who has performed the mammography and his or her assessment of the organ state during the reading of the results.

Based on the results of the study, we recommend that you consult a mammologist to get the necessary clarifications.