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Mammography remains the benchmark for early detection of breast cancer. Women should start annual mammography screening at the age of 40. However, some people with a strong family history of breast cancer may need to have a mammogram sooner. If you have a family history, it is important to talk to your doctor about what is best for you.
For example, if the mother of a patient developed breast cancer at a young age, the patient should start breast cancer screening 10 years earlier than when she was diagnosed with her mother.
There are two types of mammograms:
- Screening – mammograms given to patients without signs of problems.
- Diagnosis – mammogram administered in case of abnormality found during a screening mammogram or a mass found during a breast examination.
Doctors recommend an annual screening mammogram to check for the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. If there are any abnormalities, the doctor may call the person for follow-up, a diagnostic mammogram, and then a biopsy to see if the abnormality is cancerous or benign. Throughout this process, physicians in our community work alongside patients to help them understand the results of the diagnosis, determine next steps, and recommend care that best meets the needs of the patient.
Three-dimensional mammography is gradually becoming the norm for annual screenings. These types of mammograms improve detection rates and decrease the amount of "false alarms" because they take multiple images of the breast from different angles. This allows radiologists to examine the CT in slices, thus avoiding the overlap of dense tissue that often hides or mimics malignancies.
During the 3D part of the exam, the X-ray arm scans the chest slightly and takes several images. Then, a computer produces a 3D image of the breast tissue in the form of one-millimeter slices, which allows the radiologist to better see the details of the breast in ways never before possible.
Spokesperson's background:
Drew Davis, MD, is a diagnostic radiologist in the Triad and a member of Cone Health's medical and dental staff. Dr. Davis received a BSc in Economics and Business Administration from Eastern Carolina University in 2004. He completed his medical degree at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in 2008. He completed his residency and his bodily and breast imaging fellowship. at Duke University Medical Center in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
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