![](http://www.alamy.com/thumbs/6/77CA406B-441E-4797-857E-2BE4B9CCFA09/RM253C.jpg)
Hospital signs to Mammography , Vascular Laboratory, X Ray Dept in a NHS Hospital Trust, Halton, Cheshire, North West England, Cheshire, UK
Mammography (also called mastography) is the process of using low-energy X-rays (usually around 30 kVp) to examine the human breast for diagnosis and screening. The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer, typically through detection of characteristic masses or microcalcifications. As with all X-rays, mammograms use doses of ionizing radiation to create images. These images are then analyzed for abnormal findings. It is usual to employ lower-energy X-rays, typically Mo (K-shell x-ray energies of and keV) and Rh ( and keV) than those used for radiography of bones. Ultrasound, ductography, positron emission mammography (PEM), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are adjuncts to mammography. Ultrasound is typically used for further evaluation of masses found on mammography or palpable masses not seen on mammograms. Ductograms are still used in some institutions for evaluation of bloody nipple discharge when the mammogram is non-diagnostic. MRI can be useful for further evaluation of questionable findings, as well as for screening pre-surgical evaluation in patients with known breast cancer, in order to detect additional lesions that might change the surgical approach, for example, from breast-conserving lumpectomy to mastectomy. Other procedures being investigated include tomosynthesis.
Size: 4880px × 2769px
Photo credit: © Tony Smith / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: @hotpixuk, care, cheshire, department, dept, depts, england, female, gotonysmith, halton, health, healthcare, hospital, hospitals, hotpixuk, interior, lab, laboratory, mammograph, mammography, mastography, mri, nhs, north, radiation, ray, runcorn, screening, sign, signs, team, teams, trust, uk, vascular, ward, wards, warrington, west, widnes, womans, womens, xray