Mammography is a special type of noninvasive imaging technique that uses a low-dose x-ray system to examine breasts. The medical test is conducted for early detection and diagnosis of breast diseases in women. During the test, a part of the body is exposed to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce images of the inside of the body.
Two recent developments in mammography include digital mammography and computer-aided detection.
Digital mammography: Digital mammography, also called full-field digital mammography (FFDM), is a mammography system in which solid-state detectors are used to convert x-rays into electrical signals. To produce images of the breast, the electrical signals are used that can be displayed on a computer screen or can be printed on a special film similar to traditional mammograms.
Computer-aided detection (CAD) systems: In this technique, a digitized mammographic image can be obtained from either a conventional film mammogram or a digitally acquired mammogram. The computer software tries to figure out abnormal areas of density, mass, or calcification that may indicate the presence of cancer. The Computer-aided detection (CAD) systems highlight these areas on the images that can help doctors in further analysis.
Some of the benefits of using this technique are as given below:
· Physicians can detect small tumors. When cancers are detected at an early stage, the woman has more treatment options.
· Small abnormal tissue growths confined to the milk ducts in the breast, called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) can be detected by the use of screening mammography. These early tumors if removed on time, can prevent further proliferation of cancer cells.
· Detection of all types of breast cancer, including invasive ductal and invasive lobular cancer is possible.
· No radiation remains in a patient's body after an x-ray examination.
· X-rays usually have no side effects in the diagnostic range.
However, there is always a slight risk of cancer due to excessive exposure to radiation. However, the benefit far outweighs the risks involved.
