A mammogram usually takes about 30 minutes to complete. You will be asked to change into a gown and a mammographer will ask you questions related to your breast health and family history. She will also want to know where and when your prior mammograms were performed. Our radiologist may want to compare these studies with images taken at our center to evaluate any subtle changes that may have taken place.
Once your history has been completed we will do your exam. We will take two pictures of each breast, one from the top and one from the side. Your gown is designed to be worn throughout the exam and to expose only the breast being imaged. Your technologist might need to re-adjust your position several times in order to get the desired image. We want to make sure that the entire breast has been examined during your mammogram.
After the technologist has you positioned she will compress your breast between two plate-like structures. Compression is very important to your study. It lowers the radiation exposure, spreads the breast tissue so that it will not overlap and hide information and it helps to sharpen the image acquired. Compression lasts only several seconds and will be released the moment the exposure is over.
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