Mammogram Basics A diagnostic mammogram is obtained when a patient has symptoms, usually a mass. The mass is labeled, and at least 2 views of each breast are obtained, one looking at the breast from the top (the CC view on the left) and the second from the side (the MLO view on the right). This mass, unfortunately turned out to be a breast cancer. The other type of mammogram is a screening mammogram, and is obtained in asymptomatic patients: no markers are placed and 2 views of each breast (CC and MLO) are obtained. Normal breasts are composed of fat (the black tissue) and fibroglandular tissue (the white tissue). Mammographers categorize breasts into 4 different density categories depending on the relative proportions of fat and fibroglandular tissue: Fatty, Scattered Density, Heterogeneously Dense, Extremely Dense Cancers are (white) soft tissue masses and are easy to see in a breast that is composed entirely of (black) fat. The more white fibroglandular tissue is present, the harder a cancer is to see. By Dr. Stefan Tigges @StefanTigges #Mammogram #Mammography #Breast #Radiology #clinical #diagnosis #interpretation
