Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer affecting women all over the world. Statistics say that in the United States, for instance, one in every five women is going to develop breast cancer during her life time. The disease usually starts to develop at the age of 50 years and above. However, Breast cancer shows high cure rates and overall survival rates when detected early.
Therefore, several countries are currently conducting mammography screening programs, in addition to other means such as breast self-examination and clinical examination, to help women in fighting the disease.
Mammography is one of the diagnostic imaging techniques that uses small dose of radiation delivered to the breast to generate images of the breast tissue that could point out if there is a cancer or not. Mammography has been the main technique used in breast cancer screening programs where women, in most of the programs; undergo one mammography scan each two years for women aged 50 to 75 years.
However, since one of the drawbacks of the mammography screening is that it has a range of false positive and false negative results; studies are currently taking place to determine another medical imaging technique to carry on with the breast cancer screening programs. For instance, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the suggested techniques to substitute mammography. Breast MRI provides better detailed images that can aid doctors in detecting cancer in their patients. Breast MRI has overcome a major problem that causes the false positive and negative results in mammography. Breast MRI can easily differentiate between a normal healthy but dense breast tissue and cancerous tissues.
Yet, there are several obstacles that hinder the use of breast MRI; the main issue is that MRI cost is much higher than mammography. Also MRI is not to be used on patients using pacemakers as the magnetic force generated during the procedure can interact with the pacemaker resulting in serious problem. Perhaps with the continuous studies, researchers would be able to provide communities with a new and better way to fight this killer disease.
By: Mohamed Ahmed Sherif
Editorial Team: Health Imaging Hub
For More Radiology, Diagnostic Imaging Articles, please visit http://www.healthimaginghub.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mohamed_Ahmed_Sherif
Therefore, several countries are currently conducting mammography screening programs, in addition to other means such as breast self-examination and clinical examination, to help women in fighting the disease.
Mammography is one of the diagnostic imaging techniques that uses small dose of radiation delivered to the breast to generate images of the breast tissue that could point out if there is a cancer or not. Mammography has been the main technique used in breast cancer screening programs where women, in most of the programs; undergo one mammography scan each two years for women aged 50 to 75 years.
However, since one of the drawbacks of the mammography screening is that it has a range of false positive and false negative results; studies are currently taking place to determine another medical imaging technique to carry on with the breast cancer screening programs. For instance, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the suggested techniques to substitute mammography. Breast MRI provides better detailed images that can aid doctors in detecting cancer in their patients. Breast MRI has overcome a major problem that causes the false positive and negative results in mammography. Breast MRI can easily differentiate between a normal healthy but dense breast tissue and cancerous tissues.
Yet, there are several obstacles that hinder the use of breast MRI; the main issue is that MRI cost is much higher than mammography. Also MRI is not to be used on patients using pacemakers as the magnetic force generated during the procedure can interact with the pacemaker resulting in serious problem. Perhaps with the continuous studies, researchers would be able to provide communities with a new and better way to fight this killer disease.
By: Mohamed Ahmed Sherif
Editorial Team: Health Imaging Hub
For More Radiology, Diagnostic Imaging Articles, please visit http://www.healthimaginghub.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mohamed_Ahmed_Sherif
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