Negative Aspects of Mammography

Research papers on the negative aspects of mammography may look at the medical, social or ethical risks invovled in the process of mammography. Have the writers at Paper Masters custom write you research on the negative issues regarding mammography.

There are some negative aspects of mammography, especially in the form most commonly used - x-ray. This process involves the production of a small amount of radiation. The amount produced is generally not harmful to the individual receiving the x-ray or the technician taking the mammogram. Proper procedure of conducting a mammogram by x-ray involves the technician standing behind a shield, protecting him or her from continuous exposure. One negative social aspect is that the cost of a mammogram, which is generally between $100 and $150, is prohibitive for women who are impoverished. This causes the social problem of certain women to be at a greater risk for breast cancer simply because they cannot participate in the screening process. The mammogram has several personal drawbacks as well.

1. X-ray mammography is an unpleasant process because it involves the pressing of the breast into a flat position for a brief period of time.
2. Mammography has a relatively high rate of false-negative diagnoses.
3. Approximately forty percent of breast cancer is undiagnosed with the use of traditional mammography.

Before 1966, x-rays of the breast tissue were obtained with regular x-ray machine. However, it was in 1966 when the first mammography machine was developed. Thus, the basic technology behind the mammography machine is based upon x-rays. This "was essentially a tripod supporting a special X-ray camera". During the next fourteen years, this was converted into a machine and refined. It was not until the eighties that the real advances took place in the production of mammograms. These included the reduction of radiation exposure time and the ability to compress the breast in order to view adequately the tissue. Other advances in the remaining twentieth century involved the use of Rhodium, "that enables better penetration of the breast tissue with less radiation exposure," "an add-on component for breast biopsies," and the ability to attach computers to mammogram machines enabling the production of digital mammograms. In fact, more and more mammograms are becoming digitalized. The importance of this is that mammograms from previous years may be more easily compared with a current mammogram to determine growth via computer technology.