Does mammography hurt?

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Pain during screening mammography is a concern, with reported incidence varying widely.
• Some studies suggest mammography pain may reduce patient adherence to regular screening schedules.
• Understanding pain prevalence, severity, and influencing factors is crucial for improving the patient experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence, severity, and duration of pain during mammography.
• To identify demographic risk factors associated with mammography pain.
• To assess the impact of pain and anxiety on compliance with breast cancer screening.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 399 women undergoing mammography at two centers in Jerusalem.
• A 23-item questionnaire assessed pain experience, severity, duration, and factors influencing compliance.
• Univariate analysis was used to identify predictors of pain.

Main Results:

• 77% of women reported pain during mammography; 60% described it as moderate to severe.
• Pain typically resolved within 10 minutes for most women.
• Cyclic breast pain was the only significant predictor of mammography pain (P=0.053).
• Low pre-mammography counseling (51%) was noted, though most women anticipated pain.
• 26% reported anxiety and 12% reported pain as potential barriers to future screening compliance.

Conclusions:

• Mammography is frequently perceived as painful, but usually transient.
• Pre-emptive analgesia is rarely desired by patients even with moderate/severe pain.
• Improved pre-test counseling and post-test debriefing are recommended to enhance patient compliance with screening mammography.