Breast Imaging
Every three minutes throughout the world, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. The successful treatment of this disease has been greatly enhanced by diagnosis and treatment in the earliest stages. Eight out of ten breast lumps are not cancerous and a mammogram can successfully detect breast cancer up to two years before it can be felt with self-examination.
Breast imaging procedures include:
- Screening and Diagnostic mammography: Mammography is a specific type of imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system for examining the breasts. Inova Fairfax Hospital now offers the latest in Digital Mammography technology for the clearest, most efficiently-processed test results possible.
Mammography screenings play a central part in early detection of breast cancer because it can show changes in the breast up to two years before a patient or physician can feel them. Diagnostic mammography is used to evaluate a patient with abnormal clinical findings, such as a breast lump or lumps that have been found by the woman or her doctor. Diagnostic mammography may also be done after an abnormal screening mammography in order to determine the cause of the area of concern on the screening exam.Although mammography is the best method for early detection of breast cancer, not all cancers are found through mammography. A thorough examination includes a combination of self-breast exam, physical breast exam by your physician, and screening mammography. The American Cancer Society recommends the following guidelines for optimal breast health:
- Monthly Breast Self Exam beginning at age 20
- Clinical Breast Exam by your doctor every 3 years for ages 20–39
- Annual Clinical Breast Exam by your doctor beginning at age 40
- Baseline mammogram between the ages of 35 and 40
- Annual mammograms beginning at age 40
