RECENT ADVANCEMENTS IN BREAST MAMMOGRAPHY

Dr. Archana Salvi*

ABSTRACT

The most devastating loss of life from breast cancer occurs between the ages of 30 to 50. Fortunately, women today have more options available to them to help in the detection of breast cancer than in the past decades. Unfortunately, education and awareness of these options and their effectiveness in detecting breast cancer at different stages in life are woefully deficient. The goal of mammography is the detection, characterization, and evaluation of findings suggestive of breast cancer and other breast diseases. Annual screening mammography of age-appropriate asymptomatic women is currently the only imaging modality that has been proven to significantly reduce breast cancer mortality. A screening mammogram is an X-ray examination of the breast of an asymptomatic woman. A diagnostic mammogram is an X-ray examination of the breast of a patient with signs or symptoms of breast disease, a possible abnormality detected on screening mammography or other imaging, or who has prior mammography findings requiring imaging follow-up. It is essential that all mammography be performed and interpreted with the highest quality possible.

Keywords: Mammography, digital mammography, computer-aided detection, breast tomosynthesis.