Mammography is a dedicated radiographic technique for imaging the breast, and the resultant images are known as mammograms.

Types of mammography:

In general terms, there are two types of mammography: screening and diagnostic.

Mammography differs significantly in many respects from the rest of diagnostic imaging.

Screening mammography:

In general terms, screening mammography is performed on asymptomatic women to identify malignant breast pathology at an early, potentially curable stage.

Diagnostic mammography:
Imaging performed on symptomatic patients, or to work-up an abnormality found on screening mammography. The objective is to use imaging to typify pathology and arrive at a diagnosis.