Mammography

Mammography is an X-ray-based imaging test of the breast, considered to be the gold standard for breast cancer screening. It is designed to detect early-stage breast cancer in women experiencing no symptoms and to detect and diagnose breast disease in women experiencing symptoms such as a lump, pain or nipple discharge.

When preparing for a mammogram

Mammograms are brief; usually no more than 20 minutes in duration and there is no advance preparation other than to refrain from using any deodorant, powder or lotion on the breasts or under the arms on the day of your exam. Patients should also wear a 2-piece outfit so that they only need to remove their top in the room. Lastly, patients should bring in the name of the facility where their previous mammograms were performed, should we need them for comparison.

If you are pregnant, please tell your doctor or a patient representative before your test.

If you have recently had a COVID-19 vaccination, please inform an IHS technologist before your mammogram. Some patients experience a temporary swelling of the lymph nodes under their arm on the same side as their vaccine injection.  For more information, click here.

Screening and Diagnostic Mammography

There are two kinds of mammograms: screening and diagnostic. Screening mammograms involve two X-ray views of each breast. In the event an area of concern is identified, the patient may be called back for special additional views. This happens with about 7-10% of screening mammograms. The vast majority of these tests will be normal, although a small percentage of these follow-up (diagnostic) mammograms reveal breast cancer. 

In California, a doctor’s prescription is not required for you to have a screening mammogram. However, we are required to send a copy of the report to your primary care physician or OB/GYN.

Diagnostic mammograms require more views and are usually indicated in situations where patients have new breast symptoms. In either exam, screening or diagnostic, the breasts will be temporarily and gently compressed in order to obtain the best possible image. 

3D Mammography (Tomosynthesis)

3D mammography, or tomosynthesis, is a recent and significant innovation in breast imaging—approved by the FDA in 2011. Numerous European and American clinical studies have demonstrated that adding tomosynthesis to a screening mammogram increases the cancer detection rate by about 40% and significantly lowers recall rates. It has also been shown to find more invasive cancers earlier than traditional mammography, which is why so many hospitals and imaging centers are adopting this technology. 3D mammography is also used for women with dense breasts. Dense breast tissue makes breast cancer screening more difficult and can increase the risk of breast cancer since dense breast tissue can mask potential cancer that may go undetected.