Mammogram of Breast - Item 2 (Bilateral)

What Is a Bilateral Mammogram (Item 2)?

This exam uses low-dose ionizing X-rays to capture detailed images of both of your breast tissues, allowing radiologists and oncology care teams to evaluate breast structure and identify any abnormal changes that could indicate cancer or other breast conditions. No contrast agents are used for this procedure, and there is no enclosed scanning equipment, so there is no risk of claustrophobia during the test. A licensed radiologic technologist will position each of your breasts on the imaging plate one at a time, applying gentle, brief compression to spread out dense breast tissue and capture the clearest possible images with the lowest possible radiation dose.

Oncological Clinical Applications

This exam is a standard, evidence-based tool for all stages of breast cancer care: it is used for routine screening to detect early, non-symptomatic breast cancer in people with average or elevated clinical/familial risk of the disease, diagnostic imaging for people presenting with breast symptoms (including palpable lumps, nipple discharge, skin texture changes, or unexplained breast pain), follow-up monitoring for people with a personal history of breast cancer to check for recurrence or new abnormal growths, and further evaluation of abnormal findings detected on other breast imaging tests such as ultrasound or breast MRI.

Preparation and What to Expect

No special preparation is required for this exam: you may eat and drink normally, take your regular prescribed medications, and do not need to fast prior to your appointment. You will be asked to remove jewelry, deodorant, lotion, talcum powder, or any other topical products from your chest and underarm area before the exam, as these can create artifacts that obscure important findings on the images. The entire exam takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, uses a very low, safe dose of ionizing radiation, and no contrast agents are administered at any point during the procedure.