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The two most common ways to get a comprehensive look inside your breast are using mammography and breast ultrasound. These two medical imaging types use different technologies but are often used together to get a clear picture of both the look and composition of areas of concern within breast tissue.
When it comes to concerns about finding breast cancer, there are many myths about mammography and breast ultrasound that can be confusing. View the video answering six common myths or read about each below.
If your doctor hasn’t told you that you need a mammogram, you can still book your exam. You don’t always need a doctor’s requisition to book a screening mammogram. In certain instances, you are able to self refer.
See mammogram self-referral guidelines.
Mammograms provide a very good internal picture of breast tissue. Even for dense breast tissue there are many details that can be seen better on a mammogram compared to ultrasound. Breast ultrasound is an excellent tool to take a closer look at an area of concern to see what’s inside a lump or area of dense tissue.
A diagnostic handheld breast ultrasound or an automated breast ultrasound may be booked as a supplement to a screening mammography for patients with extremely dense (Volpara D) breasts, or heterogeneously dense breast tissue (Volpara C) combined with additional risk factors for breast malignancy.
Dense breast tissue is a clinical diagnosis that can only be assessed by mammography. Dense breasts have less fat and more glandular and connective tissue, which make a mammogram harder to read so smaller cancers may be hidden. Very dense breast tissue can also increase breast cancer risk. Using both ultrasound and X-ray technology (mammography) together helps provide a more complete picture of the dense breast tissue.
Most breast cancers are not due to genetic factors and many factors besides genetics can contribute to your risk. Canadian women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. Screening is important for all women regardless of family history.
During a mammogram, two X-ray plate surfaces slowly move together, compressing the breast for a short time. This compression is necessary to get the clearest image of breast tissue using the least amount of radiation. Everyone’s pain threshold is different, but there may some discomfort during the very short interval when the breast tissue is being compressed.
Mayfair Diagnostic also uses the latest mammography technology – the GE Senographe Pristina Dueta mammography system – at 13 mammography locations, 12 in Calgary and one in Cochrane. This system is designed to increase patient comfort and reduce anxiety. With Pristina the patient is offered the option to use a handheld wireless remote control – called patient-assisted compression – to adjust the level of compression to what’s comfortable for her, under the guidance of a technologist. This is important because the more relaxed the patient, the easier it is to position and compress the breast, resulting in less radiation from the X-rays and a clearer image. A positive experience also makes patients more likely to return for regular screening, which is the most effective way to catch breast cancer early.
Some women think that breast ultrasound and mammography do the same thing, so they only need an ultrasound. This isn’t true. Mammograms use X-rays and ultrasound uses sound waves. Mammography sees the whole breast for an overall picture of breast tissue and any changes or irregularities. Ultrasound can take a closer look at an area of concern to determine its composition (fluid vs. solid). Ultrasound is not allowed as a stand-alone screening tool for regular breast cancer screening checks.
Mammograms use a very small amount of radiation which is highly regulated by various regulatory organizations. We are exposed to constant background radiation every day and mammograms equate to about two months’ worth of that background radiation.
See this infosheet for a chart of radiation doses.
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Our Refresh newsletter delivers the latest medical news, expert insights, and practical tips straight to your inbox, empowering you with knowledge to enhance patient care and stay informed.
By subscribing to our newsletter you understand and accept that we may share your information with vendors or other third parties who perform services on our behalf. The personal information collected may be stored, processed, and transferred to a country or region outside of Quebec.
Please read our privacy policy for more details.
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