Mammography
A digital mammography is an X-ray image of the breast.
It is used as part of the screening examination for early diagnosis of breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer in women. We have been partners in the mammography screening programme for many years. Thanks to the screening programme for early diagnosis of breast cancer, the breast cancer mortality rate can be reduced by up to 40 percent (see http://www.mammo-programm.de).
Therefore women aged 50 to 69 should participate in the screening programme every 2 years. In case of a family disposition, it may also be useful to have examinations performed earlier and more frequently. We will be happy to advise you about this.
If you have felt a lump in your breast tissue, this should be further clarified with a mammography or sonography as a rule. Using state-of-the-art equipment, high-quality digital images can be created with a very low radiation dose.
Women aged 40 or older should be examined regularly every two years. If certain risk factors exist, annual mammography or sonography examinations are recommendable.
According to guidelines issued by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Senologie (German Society for Senology), women are considered to be high-risk patients if:
- at least two first-degree female relatives in the family have been affected by breast and/or ovarian cancer, at least one of whom was under the age of 50 at the time of illness
- one woman in the family has been affected by unilateral breast cancer, with the disease occurring at the age of 30 or younger
- one woman in the family has been affected by bilateral breast cancer, with the disease occurring at the age of 40 or younger
- one woman in the family has been affected by bilateral breast cancer, if the disease occurred at the age of 40 or younger
- a male relative is affected by breast cancer
Our specially trained and certified medical technical assistants prepare you for the examination with care and understanding and explain every step to you. To achieve good image quality despite the low radiation dose, your breast is briefly compressed for the examination. This may be slightly unpleasant; however it is completely harmless and very brief. If possible, the examination should be performed shortly after menstruation because the breast is less sensitive to pressure then.
Two images are created of every breast, which are analysed by our experts following the examination. The examination result is discussed with you in detail during a subsequent consultation, and your questions are answered. After creation of the images, one of our medical experts will examine you. Afterwards he/she will discuss the result with you and answer your personal questions. An additional ultrasound examination, also magnetic resonance imaging of the breast in individual cases, is often useful.
Special preparation for this examination is not required. If you still have a regular cycle, the examination date should be scheduled shortly after menstruation because the breast is less sensitive to pressure then. If earlier images or earlier diagnostic findings are available, please bring them with you to the examination. If you have any special questions, please make a note of them in advance. This way we can respond to your individual situation optimally.
Mammography outside of the screening program
If examinations of the breast are necessary that do not take place as part of preventive care, your gynecologist or family doctor will refer you for breast diagnostics. Reasons for this can include: follow-up care after breast cancer, breast complaints, intensive preventive care in the event of an increased family risk and other reasons.
In this case, please contact us directly to make an appointment, online or by telephone on: +49 89 550 596 0.