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What is a screening mammogram?

A screening mammogram is a breast X-ray examination for women with no symptoms. The purpose is to detect tumors while they are still too small to be felt by a woman or her doctor. The examination takes just a few minutes. Two X-ray images (views) of each breast are normally taken. For some patients, for example women with larger breasts, more images may be required in order to see as much breast tissue as possible.

If there is a screening program where you live, you will be called regularly for a screening mammogram examination – usually every year or every two years, starting at age 40 or 50. You can also talk to your general practitioner or gynecologist about getting a mammogram.

How is a mammogram done?

The mammogram is performed by a qualified technologist. For each view, the technologist positions the breast on the breast support of the mammography unit, and gradually compresses it using a clear plastic paddle. The compression helps provide good image quality to enhance detection.

Philips MicroDose Mammography has been designed with both the patient and the clinician in mind. Its ergonomic design lets the technologist perform the examination in about four minutes, which means a shorter and more convenient visit for you.

What’s more, the system’s breast support is anatomically curved for a comfortable fit, and has a warmed surface to reduce discomfort during the compression. The result is an enhanced patient experience.

The curved and warm breast support of the Philips MicroDose Mammography system helps provides comfort during the examination.

How should I prepare?
How should I prepare?

To help reduce discomfort during mammography, schedule your mammogram approximately one week after your period. During this period your breasts are less tender.

If possible, bring your previous mammogram or a list of where and when you had previous mammograms with you to your appointment.

On the day of the examination, do not wear deodorant, baby or talcum powder, lotion or perfume under your arms or on your breasts. These substances can leave traces on your mammogram making the images difficult to interpret and could in some cases look like microcalcifications.

Any jewelry worn, especially earrings or necklaces, should be easy and quick to remove.

Any breast symptoms or problems that you are experiencing should be described to the technologist performing the examination. You should also be prepared to discuss your pertinent history with the radiographer: prior surgeries, scars, other marks, hormone use, and family or personal history of breast cancer.
Does it hurt?
Does it hurt?

Compression may be uncomfortable for a few seconds if you have tender breasts, but should not be painful.

To produce a mammogram, the breast must be compressed. X-ray images are obtained from various angles and a routine screening examination consists of four images, two views of each breast. If a woman feels any discomfort, a good thing to know is that a MicroDose scan only takes 3-10 seconds per image.

A technologist or radiographer controls the level of compression and adjusts the compression paddle. This is done progressively, so that is acceptable by the woman.

On the MicroDose system, the ‘support’ where your breast is positioned, is warmed and curved to follow your breast shape and provide comfort.
What happens after?
What happens after?

When the examination is completed, you will be asked to wait until the radiologist confirms that all the necessary images have been obtained.

A minimum of one radiologist reads the mammogram and the results are forwarded to your doctor, who will explain them to you. If the mammogram reveals any irregularities, your doctor will recommend action to be taken.

This action may involve another mammogram, an ultrasound, or a biopsy to remove a small piece of tissue for examination. If the biopsy confirms a cancerous growth, your doctor will explain the available treatment options.

Most mammograms ordered for screening purposes come back with normal results.

Make sure to ask when your results will be available; do not assume the results are normal if you do not hear from your doctor or the mammography facility.

Your screening mammogram step-by-step

See a typical treatment (PDF)

Why digital mammography?

Digital mammography may improve the radiologists’ ability to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. It allows a radiologist to electronically adjust, store, and retrieve digital images. Long-distance consultations with other mammography specialists may be easier. The radiologist can adjust images to better evaluate possible areas of concern, which may help in detecting subtle differences in the breast tissue. Lower initial radiation dose and fewer repeat images reduce the radiation exposure.

Today, three different types of equipment exist:

1. Digital Technology

1. Digital technology

much like a digital camera, where the machine produces a digital image which is then viewed on a computer screen. This technique is commonly called Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM). With digital mammography, the images are recorded directly onto a computer. The image can then be viewed on a computer screen and certain areas can be enlarged or highlighted as needed. If there is a suspicious area, your doctors can use the computer to get a closer look. The images also can be transmitted electronically with ease from one location to another across the city or across the globe, should a doctor wish to seek the opinion of a colleague.

2. The Intermediate Step

2. The Intermediate step

between film and digital images, by which the image is produced using a special cassette from where the image is digitized and then either printed as film or viewed on a computer screen.

3. Analog film system

Analog film system, oldest and still most widely used. The mammogram on these machines is viewed on a film on a lightbox, much like a film negative from a normal camera. If you have had a film-screen mammogram, the images will be in black and white on large sheets of film.

Schedule your low-dose mammogram. Do it for you.

No matter why you’ve put off getting your mammogram, there’s a reason to move this potentially life-saving exam right to the top of your to-do list.

Brochures

Breast density measurement
Self breast examination showercard
Your screening mammogram step-by-step
The importance of early detection

Customer stories

Salvador CS customer testimonial
Allison breast center customer story
Microdose SI customer story

White papers

MicroDose mammography White Paper
MicroDose clinical effectiveness white paper
MicroDose patient survey

Applications

Philips breast cancer care application
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Videos

Philips Breast Imaging with MicroDose SI

Customer story Dr. Klein
Customer and Women’s experiences

Philips Breast Cancer Solutions 2015

Enhanced examination experience