Diagnostic
Services
Radiology
Services - Mammography |
What
does the equipment look like?
A mammography unit is a rectangular box that houses the
tube in which x-rays are produced. It is used exclusively
for an x-ray exam of the breast with special accessories
that allow only the breast to be exposed to the x-rays.
Attached to the unit is a device that holds and compresses
the breast and positions it to obtain optimal images from
different angles.
How
is the procedure performed?
A specially qualified radiology technologist will position
you to image your breast. The breast is first placed on
a special cassette and compressed with a paddle (often made
of clear Plexiglas or other soft plastic).
Breast compression is necessary in order to:
• Even out the breast thickness so that all of the
tissue can be visualized;
• Spread out the tissue so that small abnormalities
won’t be obscured by overlying breast tissue;
• Allow the use of a lower x-ray dose, since a thinner
amount of breast tissue is being imaged;
• Hold the breast still in order to eliminate blurring
of the image caused by motion; and
• Reduce x-ray scatter, which also leads to poor image
quality.
The technologist will go behind a glass shield while making
the x-ray exposure, which will send a beam of x-ray through
the breast to the film behind the plate, thus exposing the
film.
You will be asked to change positions slightly between images.
The routine views are a top-to-bottom view and a side view.
The process is repeated for the other breast.
The examination process should take about half an hour.
When mammography is completed you will be asked to wait
until the radiologist examines the images to determine if
more are needed.
