Mammogram
Mammograms are x-rays of the breast. They are generally
only carried out in women over the age of 35 years.
This is because the breast tissue in younger women is
relatively much denser with the result that the details
of breast tissue being x-rayed are lost. However over
the age of 35 a mammogram is probably the most effective
type of investigation of breast problems. Most women
of the appropriate age group will be advised to have
a mammogram if they have a breast problem.
A mammogram is carried out by a female Radiographer
who has specialised training in this form of x-ray.
Each breast in turn is gently compressed between the
two surfaces of the x-ray machine. The x-ray itself
takes just a second and is repeated on the other side.
Each breast is x-rayed from top to bottom and from
side to side, making a total of 4 individual x-rays.
The whole procedure probably takes less than 10 minutes.The
x-ray films are viewed and reported by a Consultant Breast Radiologist (Dr Evans, Dr A. Jones, Dr Kesser, Dr S. McWilliams, Dr Parikh) though unless you are visiting the one-stop
breast clinic this may not be till later the same
day.
If you have had previous mammograms these will be
compared with your present mammograms. Please be sure to bring your old mammograms
along if they are in your possession, otherwise we will obtain them from another hospital for you.
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