Mammography-Associated Pain: Contributing Factors and Mitigation Strategies

Pain is one of the most common negative experiences with screening mammography, and it is an unavoidable limitation due to the necessity of breast compression. Unfortunately, mammography-associated pain discourages many women from screening attendance. This article reviews the multifactorial etiologies of mammographic pain: technical, physiologic, psychological, and demographic variables. Because mammography remains the only screening modality proven to reduce breast cancer mortality, it is imperative that radiologists understand the factors contributing to mammography-associated pain and implement evidence-based strategies to mitigate this screening barrier. These strategies include pharmaceutical, physical, technologic, and psychological solutions.