Breast screening

Conventional mammography uses X-rays to visualise the glandular tissue of the breast.

How is the examination performed?

Two images are taken of each breast by default. The breast is compressed to obtain clear images and minimise radiation exposure. Every woman experiences this differently. Please talk to your medical technologist if you feel this is necessary.

What should you avoid on the day of the examination?

Do not use body lotion or cream, or deodorant containing metal, as this may give a false result. It should be possible to compress your breast.

What information is required?

• When was your last period?
• Do you take a contraceptive pill?
• Is there a history of breast cancer in your family?
• Have you felt anything yourself?
• Have you experienced any pain or noticed any changes?
• Have you noticed any discharge from your nipples?
• Have you ever had any x-rays taken before? (When/where? Please bring any images with you)

Tomosynthesis

Tomosynthesis is a modern imaging technique. It is a further development of two-dimensional digital mammography (2D) and enables a three-dimensional representation (3D) of the breast by creating layer images.

• Breast sonography is an ultrasound examination of the breast. Ultrasound serves as a complementary method after mammography or MR mammography.
• Ultrasound is the first imaging technique used in very young women with dense glandular tissue. If necessary, an ultrasound contrast agent may be injected into your vein to enable a more precise assessment of the findings.
• Breast ultrasound is not a screening measure.
• The best time for the examination as well as for breast ultrasound is the second week of the menstrual cycle (7th to 14th day), as the tissue is easier to assess at this time.
• Our department uses high-resolution probes with digital technology that can detect even the smallest tumours.

• MRI mammography is a method of visualising the female breast that does not involve X-rays.
• A contrast agent is administered into a vein during the examination, which makes the blood circulation in the affected areas visible. This is crucial for detecting any tumours.
• MRI mammography enables the entire breast tissue up to the chest wall and front armpit to be imaged while the patient is lying on their stomach.
• This special positioning allows the breasts to be examined without causing any pain,
• allowing any changes in the breast to be precisely localised.
• Cross-sectional imaging makes it possible to visualise breast tissue without any overlay.
• The examination takes approximately 20–25 minutes.

• Supplementary examination

  MRI mammography does not completely replace conventional mammography or breast ultrasound and should be considered a supplementary examination, as it does not detect possible early signs of malignant tumours such as microcalcifications.

  If a mammogram and breast ultrasound performed immediately beforehand do not reveal any abnormal findings, a follow-up examination is usually carried out after three to six months.

  Areas of application

  It is performed

• To rule out tumour recurrence
• To differentiate from a scar following surgical treatment for breast cancer
• When the diagnostic reliability of mammography and breast ultrasound examination methods is insufficient
• For high-risk patients with genetic (BRCA-1/2 mutation) or strong family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer

• Contraindications

  The general exclusion criteria for MRI that speak against MRI mammography include:

• Pacemakers
• Pain pumps
• Severe claustrophobia

• What needs to be considered before an MRI mammography examination?

• Previous images are very helpful for evaluating MR mammography, as they allow subtle changes to be detected at an earlier stage. Please bring these with you to the examination.
• MRI mammography should be performed on pre-menopausal women during the second week of their menstrual cycle (7th to 14th day) if possible, as this is when contrast agent accumulation in healthy breast tissue is at its lowest and it is easier to detect small changes in particular.
• MRI mammography should generally be performed no earlier than six months after breast surgery and twelve months after radiotherapy in order to avoid false-positive findings.