The continuing challenges of breast compression

The aim in mammography is to clearly visualise breast tissue structures to aid cancer detection and one criterion of the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) guidelines is to guide staff to ensure optimum image quality1. Taplin et al (2002)2 highlighted a positive correlation between poor image quality and the occurrence of breast cancer within two years of a negative screening mammogram and Poulos et al (2003)3 confirmed the association that breast compression had on image quality This however, was challenged by Mercer4 and colleagues in 2013 who, in a novel study of 39 clients over three sequential screens, demonstrated that changes in compression forces caused little or no impact in visual image quality. In addition to the risk of discomfort to the patient, and discouraging them from re-attending for future mammogram appointments, compression can also cause damage to a client's breast tissue and this is an important aspect for both clients' and practitioners' understanding. Patients attending a symptomatic environment are often anxious, emotional and less tolerant of pain, despite the requirement for a diagnosis There is a measured and international concern over the lack of standards for optimal compression in mammography, well as practitioner variability REFERENCES http://www.sor.org//learning/library-publications/itp This article has been prepared following local guidance relating to the use of patient data and medical images.