Mammography Essay

Mammography is the study that involves identifying structures within the breast to classify them as benign or malignant. A mammogram is an image obtained by using x-rays to probe the breast. Mammography has been successful in improving detection of cancer, particularly non-palpable breast masses and calcifications that may be malignant. Institute of Medicine Report on Mammography (Committee on the Early Detection of Breast Cancer 2001) suggests that the reduction in mortality from breast cancer observed in recent years may be due to earlier detection through mammography screening [9]. During a screening for breast cancer radiologists, or readers, inspect mammogram for areas that may indicate further investigation through biopsy, a surgical procedure from which the diagnosis and subsequent prognosis is obtained. Mammography continues to be the standard screening tool for breast cancer detection resulting in at least a 30% reduction in breast cancer deaths [10]; however, not all breast cancer can be detected by mammograms such as micro calcification, masses, architectural distortion, asymmetry between breasts, breast edema and lymphadenopathy, the interpretations of their presence are very difficult because of its morphological features [11]and the sensitivity of
For only 3 to 4 from every thousand cases analyzed by radiologist are cancerous and thus an abnormality may be overlooked. As a result, radiologists fail to detect 10-30% of cancers [13]. It has been suggested that double reading i.e., independent mammogram interpretation by two radiologists, may increase the sensitivity and specificity of mammographic screening by 10% to 15 % [14]. As the consequences of errors in detection or classification are costly, and since mammography alone cannot prove that a suspicious area is timorous, malignant or benign, the tissue has to be removed for closer examination using breast biopsy