Clinical assessment of a radiolucent cushion for mammography

To determine whether use of a radiolucent cushion could significantly decrease pain during screening mammography without compromising image quality or other technical factors.

838 patients presenting for routine screening mammography were evaluated. The radiolucent cushions were placed on the compression surfaces of the mammographic equipment and were used while imaging the right breast. No pads were used while imaging the left breast. Patient age, hormonal status, compression force, and radiation dose values were collected on all patients. Each subject completed a visual analog pain scale (VAS) rating the degree of pain experienced with and without the cushions. All mammographic images obtained (CC and MLO views) were compared, side by side (cushioned versus non-cushioned) by the readers.

Use of radiolucent cushions reduced pain by 10% or more in 66% (555/838) of women. Patients in this "benefited group" experienced an average pain reduction of 53%. No compromise of image quality was observed. Compression force and radiation dose values were highly correlated between the cushioned and non-cushioned sides.

Two-thirds of women experienced a significant reduction of pain when the radiolucent cushions were used during mammography. Pain reduction was accomplished without any clinically significant change in compression force, radiation dose values, or image quality.