[Mammography]

Today mammography represents the only imaging modality that decreases with the help of screening programs the mortality rate of breast cancer patients. This becomes increasingly necessary because already every tenth woman in Austria will get this tumor during her lifetime. There is conclusive evidence that the patients chance for survival depends on the clinical status of breast cancer at the time of diagnosis. Therefore every woman should undergo a yearly mammogram starting at 40 years of age. If sensitivity and specificity of mammography is under consideration one must differentiate its role during a screening program versus the situation of a symptomatic patient.