M–N
mammogram An X-RAY examination of the
BREAST. The most common use of mammogram is
for early detection of BREAST CANCER. However,
mammogram may be a diagnostic tool in the eval-
uation of various conditions that affect the breasts.
Most abnormal findings mammograms detect are
not cancer.
Most often a woman stands for a mammogram.
The technologist places one breast on a shelf on
the X-ray machine, beneath which is the X-ray
film. A moving shelf then compresses the breast
against the shelf to somewhat flatten the breast
tissue for better visualization. With routine screen-
ing mammogram the technologist takes two X-
rays of each breast, one from the side and one
from above. The entire procedure—positioning
and taking the images—takes about 10 minutes.
With diagnostic mammogram the technologist
takes up to five images, in different positions, of
each breast. The entire procedure for diagnostic
mammogram takes about 15 minutes.
Though mammogram is generally quick and
painless, some women experience discomfort with
the compression of their breasts. Women who are
still menstruating should have routine mammo-
grams two weeks after the end of their menstrual
periods to minimize discomfort, as the breasts are
least sensitive at this time.
Most health-care providers recommend routine
screening mammograms beginning at age 40 for
women who have no unusual risks for breast can-
cer—every two years between ages 40 and 50 and
once a year after age 50. Women who have had
breast cancer or have three or more risk factors for
breast cancer should talk with their doctors about
the appropriate intervals for mammogram.
Because the breast tissue of menstruating women
is very dense it blocks visualization of abnormali-
ties, making screening mammogram impractical in
younger women. With MENOPAUSEthe breast tissue
becomes considerably less fatty and dense, so
abnormal growths are readily obvious. Mammo-
gram often can detect growths and tumors in the
breast before they reach a size at which the
woman or her health-care provider can feel them.
See also BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION; CANCER PRE-
VENTION; FIBROCYSTIC BREAST DISEASE; PREVENTIVE
HEALTH CARE AND IMMUNIZATIONS.mastalgia Painful breasts. Cyclic mastalgia in
women occurs commonly with MENSTRUATION.
Noncyclic mastalgia in women may indicate MASTI-
TIS (INFLAMMATION, often the result of bacterial
INFECTION). Mastalgia in women is also common
during PREGNANCYandBREASTFEEDING. Mastalgia is
uncommon in men and signals an underlying
condition that requires a doctor’s evaluation.
Mastalgia is a symptom rather than itself a
health condition. The diagnostic path attempts to
pinpoint the cause of the PAIN. Diagnostic proce-
dures the doctor may conduct include breast
ULTRASOUNDand MAMMOGRAM(X-RAYof the BREAST).
Treatment targets the underlying cause.
See also GYNECOMASTIA.mastectomy A surgical OPERATIONto remove the
BREAST. Mastectomy is most commonly a treat-
ment for BREAST CANCER. Women who have
extraordinarily high risk for breast cancer (such as
because of family history or known MUTATIONof
the BRCA- 1 /BRCA- 2 genes) may choose prophylactic
mastectomy, also called risk-reduction mastec-
tomy, to reduce the likelihood that they will
develop cancer. Mastectomy is a major surgery
that may require two to five days of hospitaliza-
tion after the operation, depending on the extent298