Mammography: A Special Imaging Method in Diagnostic Radiology
Mammography:
A special imaging method in diagnostic radiology
Adam Purvis 1154987
Medical Physics 1E03
TA: Sarah McNeil
Professor: Mic Farquharson
Over the past two decades, mammography has become the central tool used to detect cancerous regions within the breast. This evolution has been enabled by advancements in the technology itself and its implementation into healthcare regulations of numerous countries around the world (Pisano et al., 2004). In its beginning stages, breast cancer is a relatively treatable disease, and increased awareness for both mammograms and self-breast examinations have led to earlier diagnoses. Studies suggest that increases in mammography screenings have been one of the main reasons that breast cancer mortality rates in Canada have decreased by over 35% since peaking in 1986 (Chappell et al., 2011). Breast cancer is most common among females over 40 years of age and comparatively rare among males. For females, it originates in one of two places: either the ducts which carry the milk to the nipple, or the lobules (Chen & Zieve, 2010). Although current breast cancer mortality rates are the lowest they have been since 1950, approximately one in twenty-nine Canadian females will die of breast cancer during their lifetime (Chappell et al., 2011). Continued research and advancements within the field of mammography will be very important in coming years in order to further reduce this rate. Figure [ 1 ]: Linear Attenuation Coefficients of Fat, Fibroglandular Tissue, and Tumour versus Energy of Beam (Johns & Yaffe, 1987) Figure [ 1 ]: Linear Attenuation Coefficients of Fat, Fibroglandular Tissue, and Tumour versus Energy of Beam (Johns & Yaffe, 1987) Much of this research should begin with diagnosis. The key problem with mammograms is that they can be very inaccurate in detecting cancerous areas due to the difficulty in observing tumours directly off of the image. Problems with viewing the image stem from similarities
A special imaging method in diagnostic radiology
Adam Purvis 1154987
Medical Physics 1E03
TA: Sarah McNeil
Professor: Mic Farquharson
Over the past two decades, mammography has become the central tool used to detect cancerous regions within the breast. This evolution has been enabled by advancements in the technology itself and its implementation into healthcare regulations of numerous countries around the world (Pisano et al., 2004). In its beginning stages, breast cancer is a relatively treatable disease, and increased awareness for both mammograms and self-breast examinations have led to earlier diagnoses. Studies suggest that increases in mammography screenings have been one of the main reasons that breast cancer mortality rates in Canada have decreased by over 35% since peaking in 1986 (Chappell et al., 2011). Breast cancer is most common among females over 40 years of age and comparatively rare among males. For females, it originates in one of two places: either the ducts which carry the milk to the nipple, or the lobules (Chen & Zieve, 2010). Although current breast cancer mortality rates are the lowest they have been since 1950, approximately one in twenty-nine Canadian females will die of breast cancer during their lifetime (Chappell et al., 2011). Continued research and advancements within the field of mammography will be very important in coming years in order to further reduce this rate. Figure [ 1 ]: Linear Attenuation Coefficients of Fat, Fibroglandular Tissue, and Tumour versus Energy of Beam (Johns & Yaffe, 1987) Figure [ 1 ]: Linear Attenuation Coefficients of Fat, Fibroglandular Tissue, and Tumour versus Energy of Beam (Johns & Yaffe, 1987) Much of this research should begin with diagnosis. The key problem with mammograms is that they can be very inaccurate in detecting cancerous areas due to the difficulty in observing tumours directly off of the image. Problems with viewing the image stem from similarities