Mammography

Mammography is an X-ray examination of breast tissue, which for many years has been extensively used in the diagnosis and screening of breast cancer.

Who should get a Mammogram?

American Cancer Society recommends the following groups of women should get screened regularly, even when they have no symptoms:

  • Women aged above 40 should have once in a year
  • Women who have a family history of breast cancer and who have previously had breast cancer
  • Women who started menstruating younger than the age of 12 or those who went through menopause later than the age of 55 years
  • Women who have never given birth or gave birth for the first time after the age of 30 years
  • Women who have taken birth control pills for an extended period of time and who have received hormone therapy for longer than 5 years

Union Imaging and Healthcheck Centre has installed the state of the art mammography system - Senographe Pristina™3D from GE. It incorporates 3D intervention guidance system Pristina Serena into the 3D mammography system, increasing ease and precision of biopsy of mammogram detected abnormalities.

Features of Senographe Pristina™3D

3D mammogram- a new technique which:

  • Reduces difficulty in interpretation due to overlapping breast tissue
  • Improves accuracy compared with conventional 2D mammogram
  • Lowers the chance of callback examination
  • Reduces compression force on breast and increases comfort
Union Imaging & Healthcheck Centre | Mammography | 2D mammography vs 3D mammography
2D mammography (left) vs 3D mammography (right) for same client

Ensure Patient Comfort
During the examination, Pristina Dueta™ which is a wireless patient-assisted compression device is provided for patients to personally determine the level of breast compression, based on their tolerance levels.

Superior image quality with the lowest radiation dose
The 3D breast imaging with low dose technology (ASiR) in Senographe Pristina™3D is FDA approved and has amongst the lowest patient radiation dose compared to other digital breast tomosynthesis systems.

Union Imaging & Healthcheck Centre | Mammography | Digital Breast Tomosynthesis systems
Pre-procedure Preparations
  • Female clients should inform our staff if they are pregnant or may be pregnant before the examination.
  • Clients should avoid body deodorant, powder and body lotion to the breasts and axillary regions.
  • The examination has a very low risk of breast implant rupture. Clients with breast implants should inform radiographer before the examination.
  • Clients are reminded to bring along all of previous mammography and breast ultrasound films and reports on the day of examination.
Procedures
  1. Clients will be asked to remove any clothing above the waist, as well as any jewellery or other belongings.
  2. Clients will be instructed to stand in front of the mammography machine with the breast placed in between the examination platform and a compression device.
  3. The breast will be compressed to even out the thickness and minimize possible motion during the exposure. Compression may cause discomfort but only last for 10 to 20 seconds.
  4. Basically, 2 views will be taken for each breast, 4 sets of image will be acquired. Radiologist will check the films after the examination and additional views will be performed if necessary.
  5. The procedure will take around 20 to 30 minutes.
Reminders
  • Female clients should inform our staff if they are pregnant or may be pregnant before the examination.
  • Clients should avoid body deodorant, powder and body lotion to the breasts and axillary regions.