Therefore, you, your personal doctor, your radiologist, and your surgeon need to work together as a team. A mammogram uses a weak Xray to take pictures of the breast. The breast is compressed between two plastic plates and two x-ray pictures are made of each breast. The mammogram is read by a radiologist who will give you and your physician the results. Diagnostic or Complete Mammogram - for women with a lump or other breast concern.
Some women worry about the effects of radiation from a mammogram.
Nowadays, the amount of radiation received is less than what we get from a chest Xray. A mammogram can cause some discomfort due to compression of the breast. If a woman has tender breasts, it is best to have the mammogram done after menstruation when the breasts are less tender. Ultrasound is used for women under 30 years old, or as a complement to mammography. It is used if a mammogram shows a change that needs to be diagnosed as a real mass or fibrosis.