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Measurement of force applied during mammography.
D C Sullivan1, C A Beam, S M Goodman
1Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
Radiology
|November 1, 1991
Summary
Mammography compression force and breast thickness significantly impact patient comfort. Optimizing these factors can reduce pain during breast imaging, improving the patient experience.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Patient discomfort during mammography is a significant concern.
- Compression force is a potential contributing factor to mammography-related pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure applied force and breast thickness during mammography.
- To correlate these measurements with patient-reported pain levels.
- To evaluate current mammography compression guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Measured mammography force (49–186.2 N) and breast thickness (10–88 mm) in 560 women.
- Correlated force, thickness, and their ratio with patient pain ratings.
- Utilized logistic regression analysis to assess relationships.
Main Results:
- 8% of women reported painful mammograms.
- A significant relationship was found between the force-to-thickness ratio and pain probability (P = .007).
- High-quality images were achieved with forces below maximum recommended levels in most cases.
Conclusions:
- The ratio of compression force to breast thickness is a key predictor of pain during mammography.
- Current maximum force guidelines may not be suitable for all patients.
- Technologists should individualize compression force to minimize patient discomfort.