Module 3-mammography
What was instituted in the 1992 to set guidelines that standardize the overall quality of
mammographic images - answer the Mammography Quality Standards Act
What is an advantage mammography has over any other diagnostic modality - answer
the use of the exam as a screening tool for the identification of
a suspicious lesion before it is palpable (this is regulated by the FDA)
When do most professional organizations (with the exception of the American College
of Physicians) recommend that patients with a normal risk for developing breast cancer
should have a baseline mammogram - answer at age 40 (then every 1 or 2 years
depending on risk factors)
What effect does hormone replacement therapy have on breast cancer - answer it is
associated with a slightly increased risk
How are most palpable lesions are
found - answereither accidentally or during the monthly breast self-examination
What is frequently used to evaluate an abnormality that is seen with mammography -
answerbreast ultrasound (excellent for imaging cysts and differentiating
a cystic lesion from a solid mass or a fatty lymph node)
True or false: ultrasound provides excellent contrast resolution, but cannot provide high
spatial resolution - answertrue
Why is ultrasound not approved by the FDA as a screening tool - answerbecause it
lacks fine detail of lesions and normal breast tissue
What is the most current method for measurement of bone mineral density - answerdual
energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning
When is a baseline DEXA scan recommended for both men and women - answerat age
50 (then in 5 year intervals)
What medication is used to improve bone density - answerfosamax
Is getting a mammogram or a biopsy procedure by prescription only - answeryes
Why should patients refrain from intake of caffeine prior to the examination -
answerbecause they can influence the amount of fluid retention in the breast (can add
to discomfort when compression is applied during the procedure)
, If a patient complains of great discomfort despite no caffeine consumption then
recommend that she come back when - answerduring the latter half the menstrual cycle
but before having premenstrual symptoms
What should be discontinued prior to a breast biopsy - answeraspirin, anticoagulants or
products containing Ibuprofen (must be discontinued 2 to 10 days before)
Why is it important that scars and moles be marked with lead BB's - answerbecause
they will appear in the image and may look like a lesion or mass
Why should male patients needing mammography usually scheduled prior to the female
patients coming
into the office - answerso that the patient is not uncomfortable
What is a benign enlargement of male mammary glands - answergynecomastia
(although 40% of male breast cancer patients also have gynecomastia)
What is the breast cancer prevalence in males vs females - answer99% female and 1%
male
What syndrome is also known to result in a higher incidence of breast cancer -
answerklinefelter syndrome
What can result in a higher incidence of breast cancer in men - answerexposure to
estrogen-containing creams in the soap and perfume industry and prior gonadal injury
What is the general design of mammography equipment - answera c-arm configuration
(allows for interchanging the location of the positioning surface and
the x-ray tube independently)
What does the compression device have to fine tune the amount of compression -
answera mechanical foot pedal or a manual knob
What are each of the two anodes made of in mammography - answermolybdenum (best
for the 20-25 kVp range) and rhodium (best for the 25-29 kVp range which is most
commonly used with dense breast tissue)
What is the range of the anode focal spot size - answerfrom 0.3 mm for routine
compressed breast or 0.1 mm for use with the
magnification platform
What is the main benefit of using AEC over a manual technique - answerreduced risk of
needing to do repeats
What was instituted in the 1992 to set guidelines that standardize the overall quality of
mammographic images - answer the Mammography Quality Standards Act
What is an advantage mammography has over any other diagnostic modality - answer
the use of the exam as a screening tool for the identification of
a suspicious lesion before it is palpable (this is regulated by the FDA)
When do most professional organizations (with the exception of the American College
of Physicians) recommend that patients with a normal risk for developing breast cancer
should have a baseline mammogram - answer at age 40 (then every 1 or 2 years
depending on risk factors)
What effect does hormone replacement therapy have on breast cancer - answer it is
associated with a slightly increased risk
How are most palpable lesions are
found - answereither accidentally or during the monthly breast self-examination
What is frequently used to evaluate an abnormality that is seen with mammography -
answerbreast ultrasound (excellent for imaging cysts and differentiating
a cystic lesion from a solid mass or a fatty lymph node)
True or false: ultrasound provides excellent contrast resolution, but cannot provide high
spatial resolution - answertrue
Why is ultrasound not approved by the FDA as a screening tool - answerbecause it
lacks fine detail of lesions and normal breast tissue
What is the most current method for measurement of bone mineral density - answerdual
energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning
When is a baseline DEXA scan recommended for both men and women - answerat age
50 (then in 5 year intervals)
What medication is used to improve bone density - answerfosamax
Is getting a mammogram or a biopsy procedure by prescription only - answeryes
Why should patients refrain from intake of caffeine prior to the examination -
answerbecause they can influence the amount of fluid retention in the breast (can add
to discomfort when compression is applied during the procedure)
, If a patient complains of great discomfort despite no caffeine consumption then
recommend that she come back when - answerduring the latter half the menstrual cycle
but before having premenstrual symptoms
What should be discontinued prior to a breast biopsy - answeraspirin, anticoagulants or
products containing Ibuprofen (must be discontinued 2 to 10 days before)
Why is it important that scars and moles be marked with lead BB's - answerbecause
they will appear in the image and may look like a lesion or mass
Why should male patients needing mammography usually scheduled prior to the female
patients coming
into the office - answerso that the patient is not uncomfortable
What is a benign enlargement of male mammary glands - answergynecomastia
(although 40% of male breast cancer patients also have gynecomastia)
What is the breast cancer prevalence in males vs females - answer99% female and 1%
male
What syndrome is also known to result in a higher incidence of breast cancer -
answerklinefelter syndrome
What can result in a higher incidence of breast cancer in men - answerexposure to
estrogen-containing creams in the soap and perfume industry and prior gonadal injury
What is the general design of mammography equipment - answera c-arm configuration
(allows for interchanging the location of the positioning surface and
the x-ray tube independently)
What does the compression device have to fine tune the amount of compression -
answera mechanical foot pedal or a manual knob
What are each of the two anodes made of in mammography - answermolybdenum (best
for the 20-25 kVp range) and rhodium (best for the 25-29 kVp range which is most
commonly used with dense breast tissue)
What is the range of the anode focal spot size - answerfrom 0.3 mm for routine
compressed breast or 0.1 mm for use with the
magnification platform
What is the main benefit of using AEC over a manual technique - answerreduced risk of
needing to do repeats
