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Portrait of Magnus Dustler. Photo

Magnus Dustler

Researcher

Portrait of Magnus Dustler. Photo

Distribution of pressure on the breast in mammography using flexible and rigid compression plates : implications on patient handling

Author

  • Magnus Dustler
  • Daniel Förnvik
  • Pontus Timberg
  • Sophia Zackrisson
  • Serge Muller

Summary, in English

Background: Breast compression in mammography is important but is a source of discomfort and has been linked to screening non-attendance. Reducing compression has little effect on breast thickness, and likely little effect on image quality, due to force being absorbed in the stiff juxta thoracic area instead of in the central breast. Purpose: To investigate whether a flexible compression plate can redistribute force to the central breast and whether this affects perceived pain. Material and Methods: Twenty-eight women recalled from mammography screening were compressed with flexible and rigid plates while retaining force and positioning, 15 in the craniocaudal (CC) view and 13 in the mediolateral oblique (MLO) view. Pressure distribution was continuously measured using pressure sensors. Results: The flexible plate showed greater mean breast pressure in both views: 2.8 versus 2.3 kPa for CC (confidence interval [CI] = 0.2–0.8) and 1.0 versus 0.5 kPa for MLO (CI = 0.2–0.6). The percentage of applied force distributed to the breast was significantly higher with the flexible plate, both on CC (36% vs. 22%, CI = 1–11) and MLO (30% vs. 14%, CI = 4–13). Conclusion: The flexible plate redistributes pressure to the central breast, achieving a better compression, particularly in the MLO view, though much applied force is still applied to the juxta thoracic region.

Department/s

  • LUCC: Lund University Cancer Centre
  • Radiology Diagnostics, Malmö
  • Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö
  • EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health

Publishing year

2021

Language

English

Pages

1583-1591

Publication/Series

Acta Radiologica

Volume

62

Issue

12

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Topic

  • Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging

Keywords

  • breast
  • breast compression
  • Mammography
  • pain

Status

Published

Research group

  • Radiology Diagnostics, Malmö
  • Medical Radiation Physics, Malmö

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0284-1851