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    Diagnostic vs. Screening Mammogram: What's the Difference?

    By Kristie Leong M.D. | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Fri, Oct 15, 2010
    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
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    No woman wants to be told she has an abnormal mammogram - but the reality is that about eight out of every hundred mammograms will reveal an abnormality that needs further evaluation. The good news is that most of these abnormalities turn out to be either normal breast tissue or a noncancerous lesion. When a screening mammogram is abnormal or when a woman feels a lump in her breast, a special type of mammogram is ordered called a diagnostic mammogram. Diagnostic vs. screening mammogram - what's the difference between the two?

    Diagnostic vs. Screening Mammogram: What's the difference?

    A screening mammogram is the standard two-view mammogram that most women get routinely every year after the age of forty. This type of mammogram involves taking two views of the breasts - from top to bottom and from side to side. This type of mammogram is done as a routine screening test when the breasts are normal on exam - and should never be used when there's a lump or other abnormality felt on breast exam.

    When a lump is found on breast exam or when a screening mammogram shows a suspicious area, another study called a diagnostic mammogram is done. With a diagnostic mammogram, additional views are taken so the abnormal area can be better visualized - and its exact size, location, and other characteristics can be determined. A diagnostic mammogram will take a little longer to complete than a screening one because of the additional views.

    What if a Diagnostic Mammogram is Abnormal?

    In some cases, a diagnostic mammogram will be all that's needed to determine that an abnormality isn't cancer. In other situations, a breast ultrasound or a needle biopsy may be required. A breast ultrasound is a painless procedure that uses sound waves to determine whether a suspicious area is fluid-filled, as with a cyst, or solid - which could be a benign tumor or a cancer. If the area is solid on ultrasound, a biopsy is usually done to rule out cancer.

    Diagnostic vs. Screening Mammogram: Important Information to Know

    If a woman has an abnormal breast exam, she should make sure that a diagnostic mammogram - not a screening mammogram - is ordered. Some doctors automatically order a screening mammogram which doesn't provide enough information.

    The Bottom Line?

    Screening mammograms are an important part of the screening process for detecting breast cancer, but when a screening mammogram or breast exam shows an abnormality, a diagnostic mammogram is the best choice.

    References:

    Merck Manual. 18th Edition.

     

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