Representatives of the fair sex for various reasons have to deal with examinations of the mammary glands. It is worth noting that the female body is subject to cyclical changes in reproductive age. Hormones also act on the chest. That is why breast ultrasound or mammography are as popular examinations as a gynecologist's examination. It is worthwhile to thoroughly understand these procedures and find out what is better.
Mammography: what is it?
To begin with, it is worth mentioning the diagnostic method itself . So, mammography - what is this procedure? This manipulation is one of the newest methods for diagnosing breast diseases in the fair sex.
Who needs this procedure?
If you suddenly find a lump in your chest, then you need a mammogram. What kind of education is this - the examination will show. It is recommended to carry out the procedure if there are indications in reproductive age: problems with the hormonal background, chest pain and tightness, discharge from the mammary glands.
If there are no complaints, then this examination is done only after the onset of menopause. It is worth noting that after 40 years it is recommended to do a mammogram for every woman. If there were no problems, then the second procedure will be carried out only after 1-2 years.
Mammography: dates
If you have a mammogram, the days should be strictly indicated. The study is carried out immediately after the end of menstrual bleeding. About 5-10 days after the onset of menstruation, the most suitable time for manipulation comes. It is during this period that the state of the mammary glands is as relaxed as possible.
In the event that a woman has already had menopause or menopause, the day when you can get a mammogram can be absolutely any. With this outcome, an ultrasound examination of the breast may be preliminarily performed.
During the study
So, when a mammogram is performed (on which day), you already know. It is also worth knowing exactly how the examination is carried out.
A woman should expose her upper body. The lady put in the right position, placing the chest between two plates. It is these elements that emit x-ray pulses by which a picture is taken.
As a result, the doctor receives a projection of the mammary gland in several planes. With the help of mammography, one can detect various tumor processes and suggest quality.
Survey Price Category
Many patients ask the doctor: "How much is a mammogram?" The price of the procedure can vary greatly depending on which region is being manipulated. Mammography is free at public institutions. In this case, you must have the appropriate evidence.
Most often, a woman makes an ultrasound, according to the results of which the doctor prescribes this procedure. Mammography is free of charge only in the direction. In this case, there may be a preliminary appointment (turn) for examination.
How much does mammography cost on average? The price category in private clinics ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 rubles. It all depends on the apparatus and qualifications of the specialist who conducts the examination.
Breast ultrasound
This manipulation is more popular than mammography. In Moscow, for example, before carrying out an X-ray examination, diagnostics are always prescribed by ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasound examination of the breast: description
It is worth noting that the timing of the study is absolutely the same as for mammography. The advantage of this procedure is that there is no irradiation of the body and the mammary gland. That is why during pregnancy and during breastfeeding this type of examination is prescribed.
Mammography or ultrasound: which is better?
This question cannot be answered unequivocally, since there are advantages and disadvantages to both research methods. There are several criteria by which the effectiveness of surveys is evaluated.
Credibility
If we talk about the result, then mammography is certainly better. During the ultrasound, neoplasms can be detected, but nothing can be said about the nature of the tumor. Also, when examined by ultrasound, one can not see the pathology that is in the milk ducts.
Mammography gives a clearer picture. According to its results, one can even say that a malignant or benign tumor was detected. Pathological processes in the ducts are also clearly visible in the image.
Effects on the body
Judging by the safety of the procedure, then mammography is in many ways inferior to conventional ultrasound. During the ultrasound examination, safe beams are used, which are sent to the body and reflected from it subsequently. Such a procedure can be carried out at any age and not be afraid of a negative impact.
Mammography is the so-called x-ray examination. During the procedure, impulses are sent to the mammary gland, which can slightly irradiate it. That is why the procedure is not recommended at a reproductive age without indications.
Survey cost
We can not say about the price category. In this matter, ultrasound is a better study than mammography.
As mentioned above, the cost of the procedure can be in the range from 3000 to 7000 rubles. An ultrasound examination in a private clinic costs almost 10 times cheaper. That is why it is much more profitable to examine the cavity of the breast through ultrasound.
Feeling during the examination
It is worth mentioning separately about the sensations of a woman during the manipulation. If during an ultrasound examination the patient is located on the couch and waits until the doctor examines the desired organ with the help of a special sensor, then during a mammogram everything is somewhat different.
A woman is forced to stand still for several minutes. Also, during the manipulation, two plates tightly compress the tissue of the mammary gland. This is necessary to get a more detailed picture. Such manipulations can be somewhat painful. Especially if there is a tumor in the chest.
Examination of adjacent tissues
From this point of view, ultrasound greatly outperforms mammography examinations. During the manipulation, the doctor can examine the adjacent tissues and neighboring organs. It is also quite realistic to assess the quality of blood flow in the detection of tumor processes.
All of this cannot be done during mammography. As a result of the examination, you will receive only a picture of the mammary gland in several planes and do not learn anything about the condition of adjacent tissues and blood flow.
Examination time
Mammography is a fairly quick procedure. On average, its duration does not exceed ten minutes. During an ultrasound examination of the mammary glands, the doctor needs much more time. First you need to evaluate the size of the mammary glands and note the presence of cysts. After that, a detailed description of everything seen is carried out. The average time for such an examination is at least half an hour.
In the presence of pathology
If you have a tumor that requires constant monitoring, it is better to give preference to mammography. Only this examination can give detailed accurate results of the state of the neoplasm.
It is recommended to carry out a similar procedure no more than once every six months. In the case when a more frequent examination is required, an ultrasound examination of the mammary gland is prescribed.
Brief Summary
Now you know how mammography is performed (what it is and what it is for, described in the article). Choose the appropriate examination method yourself, but do not forget to listen to the advice of a specialist.
All results obtained must be provided to the doctor for evaluation and diagnosis. It is worth noting that mammography is an accurate and reliable method of examination. However, in some cases, after it is necessary to conduct a biopsy of the tumor. Most often, such a procedure is prescribed when a controversial situation arises about the nature of the tumor. In most cases, mammography can provide the specialist with all the necessary information for diagnosis and treatment.
Examine the mammary glands regularly, especially if there is evidence for this. In this case, the pathology can be detected at the very initial stages of its development.