I'm 32 years old, went for a check-up and discovered a tumor in my chest. Ultrasound results were BIRADS 2, benign. Should I have a mammogram to screen for breast cancer? (Ngoc Duyen, Dak Lak)
Reply:
Mammography is a technique that uses X-rays to examine the chest to screen for or diagnose breast cancer, and is valuable in screening for asymptomatic breast cancer. This tool helps detect signs that ultrasound cannot detect, such as microcalcifications (very small calcifications, disturbances in tissue structure) commonly found in patients with early stage breast cancer.
In some cases of dense breast tissue, small lesions less than 1 cm, not seen on mammograms, doctors often recommend mammography to screen for breast cancer combined with diagnostic ultrasound to avoid missing cancer.
Mammography is usually indicated for women 40 years of age and older. Women under 40 years old who have a relative with breast cancer, or have signs of abnormalities in the chest suspected of malignancy such as bloody discharge, thickened breast skin... are also considered for mammography for screening and diagnosis. When taking a mammogram, the technician often compresses the chest to obtain sharp images and reduce X-ray absorption.
3D mammography to screen for breast cancer at Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City. Image: Hospital provides
This means is not indicated for women under 35 years of age. Young women have dense breast tissue, and mammography can absorb a lot of X-rays, causing a high risk of causing mutations leading to breast cancer. If a woman is under 35 years old and does not have high risk factors for breast cancer, the doctor will not prescribe a mammogram to avoid harmful health effects.
Ultrasound is the priority indication for women under 35 years old who want to screen for cancer. At this age, mammography is only indicated after the result is determined to be cancer and only on the side of the breast with malignant tumor to assess the extent of spread.
In your case, the ultrasound showed BIRADS 2 results, benign, no need for mammography.
Using appropriate X-rays, for the right person, age and dose, and technique ensures both screening and safety. Women should choose a hospital with modern mammography machines, adjusting the amount of X-ray emitted to limit the risk of X-ray absorption compared to previous generation machines.
Master, Doctor Huynh Ba Tan
Department of Breast Surgery, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City
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