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Overview
A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast used by doctors to find early signs of breast cancer. The breast is pressed and flattened between two plastic plates to hold it still while the X-ray is taken. A picture is taken from the top and side of each breast, then sent to a doctor who looks for breast changes, signs of cancer and other problems.
Identification
Each mammogram looks different, because every woman's breasts are different. Doctors with special training (called radiologists) look at the X-ray and report results to you or your doctor within a few weeks. If results are normal, you'll need another mammogram in 1 or 2 years so the radiologist can compare it to the original results and look for changes. If results are abnormal, you'll need more mammograms and tests right away so the doctor can tell whether the problem is breast cancer. You may need to see a breast specialist or surgeon who is an expert in the diagnosis of breast problems.
Significance
Cysts are fluid-filled lumps that show up in mammograms; these cysts usually aren't cancerous. The size, shape and edges of a mass or lump can indicate if it's cancerous. Benign growths usually look smooth and round with a clear edge, while breast cancer usually is characterized by an irregular shape with a jagged outline. Calcifications--deposits of calcium in the breast tissue--also show up in mammograms. Macrocalcifications are large calcium deposits usually caused by aging; microcalcifications are tiny specks of calcium found in an area where cells are dividing rapidly. Microcalcifications grouped together in a certain way can indicate breast cancer.
Function
A mammogram can be used to see whether a lump is solid or full of fluid. These lumps may be caused by normal changes in hormones, but a biopsy might be needed for diagnosis. Hard, round growths called fibroadenoma show up on mammograms as smooth lumps with defined edges. They can get bigger if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. If a fibroadenoma doesn't look normal, your doctor may want to remove it to be sure it's benign.
Considerations
Not every breast cancer can be seen in a mammogram. If the doctor isn't sure whether the mammogram shows a fluid-filled cyst or a tumor, an ultrasound or a biopsy may be needed. But a mammogram is still the best tool your doctor has to look for changes in the breasts and tumors that are too small to be found in other ways. They are useful in pinpointing the area that doctors need to examine.
Warning
After cancer treatment, it's important to have mammograms every 6 months to a year as ordered by your doctor to immediately find breast changes or a recurrence of cancer. Few women diagnosed with breast cancer in the earliest stage who follow treatment recommendations will die of breast cancer.
