Women's breasts require special attention and care almost from childhood. And this is no coincidence, because one of the most serious fears of a woman is breast cancer. Doctors-mammologists advise each of the fairer sex to regularly conduct an independent breast examination for early detection of nodules and seals. In case of the slightest suspicion, a woman must definitely consult a doctor and undergo a breast diagnosis. Today the most common examination option is mammography. Location: Location:
Mammography is an examination of the mammary glands using X-ray, only it is performed not on a regular X-ray machine, but on a special device called a mammograph. In this case, the breast is diagnosed in two projections for a more detailed examination.
Mammography is recommended not only for sick women or those who suspect something was wrong, but also for perfectly healthy women in order to prevent breast tumors (both benign and malignant). Healthy women usually have this procedure every two years after age 35. If the fair sex for some reason is included in the risk group for breast diseases, it is better for her to be examined a little more often - once a year. But in sick women, the number and frequency of mammographic examinations depends solely on the course of the disease and the recommendations of the attending mammologist or oncologist.
Mammography is of several types, depending on the device that is used to conduct it:
X-ray mammography. The method already mentioned. Such mammography is performed on an X-ray mammograph, and the images can be performed both by analog and digital methods. This is a standard and fairly accurate method to accurately identify breast cancer.
Magnetic resonance imaging. MRI, of course, will cost a pretty penny, but it is more harmless than X-rays, because it does not produce dangerous radioactive radiation. True, the accuracy of MRI is lower than that of radiography, and specialists, in addition to the data of this study, are forced to resort to other diagnostic methods.
Optical mammography. This method is still being tested. One of its main amenities is the ability to view an image in three dimensions.
Ultrasound mammography. This method is used, for the most part, only by girls and young girls. Its accuracy is not always high, so doctors attribute it to auxiliary methods of examining the mammary gland. True, at times this method makes it possible to diagnose breast diseases quite well, while the mammary glands are not irradiated, as during radiography. Ultrasound is especially valuable in the diagnosis of various formations, as well as tumors of a different nature.
It is imperative to undergo mammography in a situation if a woman begins to discover the following alarming symptoms:
• Pain in the mammary gland;
• Discharge from the nipples (except, of course, the lactation period);
• Nodules and lumps in the mammary gland;
• Complications after those cases when a prosthesis was installed in the mammary gland.
Mammography often helps to allay fears about your health, and in case of breast damage, to detect and begin treatment of the disease at its earliest stage in order to preserve the health and beauty of the woman.
