Chapter 1 Rad Flashcards
Radiographers can specialize in performing radiologic examination of the breast
a procedure called mammography.
Mammography is a valuable diagnostic tool for the early detection of breast disease
especially breast cancer.
Current statistics indicate that one of every eight or nine women in the United States will develop breast cancer.
Men are not excluded from this disease; approximately 1% of breast cancers are found in men.
Early detection of breast cancer is important to successful treatment and cure.
As a result
the American Cancer Society (ACS) has recommended regular mammography screening for all women.
The current ACS guidelines for women of average risk state that:
Women between 40 and 44 years should have the option to start screening with an annual mammogram.
Women between 45 and 54 years should have annual mammograms.
Women 55 years and older can switch to mammograms every other year or continue yearly mammograms.
This emphasis on screening mammography has resulted in an increase in the number of mammographic examinations being performed across the country.
Special breast imaging centers have been built to accommodate the demand for these procedures.
Equipment and supplies
such as a specially designed x-ray tube and high-resolution digital imaging detectors
Many facilities now routinely perform breast tomosynthesis also known as three-dimensional (3-D) mammography.
These systems use low-dose x-rays and computer reconstruction to create 3-D images of the breast.
