A woman's he alth is the he alth of her future children, which means the next generation. Therefore, she needs to especially reverently and carefully monitor her condition. So, for example, self-examination of the mammary glands is the main prevention of cancer of this organ, along with it, X-ray (mammography) and ultrasound methods are also used.
Relevance of the problem
Such an attentive approach to the state of this organ in women (to a lesser extent - in men) is caused by the sad fact that the statistics of breast cancer is steadily growing, and the population of such patients is only getting younger. Therefore, the state regulations of many countries, including the post-Soviet space, include mandatory prevention of this disease, namely active search. Therefore, screening is carried out in all women over 50 years of age with a frequency of once every 2 years. The method of choice for this purpose is mammography, however, ultrasound is quite informative. Of course, each of these studies has its own advantages and disadvantages.allow comparison between them, but the most important criterion is efficiency, because the only purpose of screening is to identify patients in the early stages of cancer or groups with risk factors for this disease.
X-Ray Technology
To decide which method is better, mammography or breast ultrasound, you first need to understand them separately. First, it is worth saying that these are two completely different studies in terms of technology. Mammography is an X-ray method, that is, it is based on the ability of tissues with different strengths to delay or transmit rays. It is carried out in the first phase of the menstrual cycle, that is, in the first week after the last menstruation, or from the 5th to the 12th day, if you count from its first day. During this period, the hormonal background is still gaining momentum, and the mammary glands are not yet influenced by it, that is, they remain unchanged. Before any examination, be it mammography or ultrasound of the breast, the doctor must examine and palpate this organ, trying to identify changes in it. Then they go directly to the visualization on the equipment.
More about Mammography
The mammograph is designed so that it clamps the mammary gland between two plates, first in one and then in the second projection. This is necessary in order to minimize the thickness of translucent tissues and increase the efficiency of the image. This allows you to visualize all changes, including those that are not palpable. And if the mammogram will revealdeviations from the normal structure of the mammary gland, then a repeated, targeted image is taken, directed directly to the altered focus. In addition, when choosing what is more effective, ultrasound or mammography, one can be guided by the important criterion that the mammograph apparatus is equipped with tools for performing a biopsy, that is, taking a piece of breast tissue for examination. This allows you to clarify the nature of pathological foci at the histological level, that is, for example, will allow you to accurately distinguish malignant from benign formation.
Disadvantages of the method
However, an x-ray examination always carries a share of ionizing radiation, and no matter how minimal it may be on modern equipment, it still exists. And therefore, if according to this criterion to choose which is better, mammography or ultrasound of the breast, then the second option clearly wins. Otherwise, this method, although rather unpleasant, is very effective, because it is highly sensitive and reveals a lot in the process of research. Of course, scientists are striving to reduce this dose, and the invention of the digital mammograph has already become their achievement. Its advantage over the ordinary one is that it saves images electronically. They can be archived on a computer and thus keep records of each patient automatically.
Advantages of digital technology
This also cut costs for the hospitals themselves. However, the significance of this fact is much greater. The point is that there istwo types of mammography: screening (preventive) and diagnostic. The first is taken when the patient arrives for screening, and each image is saved for comparison with subsequent ones. The second type is carried out for women with complaints or during examination and palpation of the mammary gland by a gynecologist and identifying any pathological changes in this organ. Further, in order to understand which method is better, mammography or breast ultrasound, you need to understand the second.
About ultrasound
So, this is an absolutely radiation-safe examination that is used to visualize the internal structure of the breast in real time. It is based on the ability of ultrasound with different strengths to be reflected from various tissues of our body. Therefore, it effectively reveals seals, voids, calcifications and tumors of the mammary gland, which is so important in the prevention of its diseases. Its accuracy, like mammography, is supported by biopsy data if necessary. But in the ultrasound itself there is a unique Doppler mode, which allows you to assess the blood flow in the organs. It also helps to distinguish between benign and malignant growths as they have different types of blood supply.
Advantages and disadvantages
Patients who underwent ultrasound of the mammary glands, the reviews, of course, are extremely positive. Firstly, this is due to the technique of its implementation: ona special gel is applied to the organ under study, and then, by contacting the sensor with it, the resulting picture is reflected on a computer monitor. It is absolutely painless, which is especially important for many patients. In addition, the price of breast ultrasound is relatively less than the cost of mammography, especially film. But, of course, the method also has disadvantages. Yes, it is simple, cheap and quite sensitive, but this is not the only way to measure the effectiveness of technology. Firstly, it is dependent on the diagnostician, which means that it has a human error factor. After all, if an inexperienced doctor does not look at the structure of your mammary glands with sufficient quality, he will miss the pathology. And secondly, it is still less sensitive than mammography, which means that even with a good study, something can be overlooked.
Other methods
Because both breast ultrasound and mammography have their advantages and disadvantages, doctors are trying to constantly improve the level of technology and attract more new developments. So, if the doctor doubts his diagnosis, he can always refer the patient to an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), which is the most sensitive and is increasingly being introduced into medical practice. However, it also carries a share of radiation exposure, and therefore is contraindicated in women during pregnancy and lactation. Therefore, they are usually prescribed ultrasound as a good alternative. In addition, as mentioned earlier, the data of radiation diagnostics in special cases must be supported by information from the histologicalresearch, i.e. biopsy.
