© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Mammography is a specialized radiographic imaging technique specifically designed for the examination of breast tissue. The procedure utilizes low-dose ionizing radiation to produce detailed images of the breast, allowing for the detection of abnormalities such as tumors or cysts. The x-rays employed in mammography differ from those used in standard bone imaging, as they have a longer wavelength, which is more suitable for visualizing soft tissue structures. This procedure is particularly important for women who exhibit symptoms of breast disease, such as a palpable mass, as well as for asymptomatic women undergoing routine cancer screening. During the mammography process, the breast is carefully compressed between two plates on a dedicated mammography machine. This compression serves multiple purposes: it evens out the dense breast tissue, minimizes motion during the imaging process, and enhances the quality of the resulting images. The primary goal of mammography is to facilitate early detection of breast cancer, significantly improving treatment outcomes and survival rates.
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