The craniocaudal view (CC view), along with the MLO view, is one of the two standard projections in a screening mammography. It must show the medial part as well as the external lateral portion of the breast as much as possible.

What are the 2 views of mammogram?

There are two standard mammographic projections: a mediolateral oblique (MLO) view and a craniocaudal (CC) view.

Which standard views are most commonly used in mammogram?

The screening examination includes two views of the breast, sometimes referred to as the “standard views”: a mediolateral oblique and a craniocaudal view (Figure 36f-1).

What is a breast spot compression CC?

Spot Compression Mammogram – Don’t be alarmed by the name, it is not as bad as it sounds. It is simply a test that focuses in on the small area that was suspicious in the first mammogram. During the test, the physician applies compression to a smaller area of tissue using a small compression plate or cone.

What does a Craniocaudal view mean?

There is a mediolateral oblique (MLO) view which is looking through your breast from the side. In addition, there is a craniocaudal (CC) view which is looking through your breast from above. A screening mammogram is composed of a CC and MLO view of each breast.

What is CC and MLO?

Standard views are bilateral craniocaudal (CC) and mediolateral oblique (MLO) views, which comprise routine screening mammography. The views are usually used for all routine screening clients. That is, unless there is a contraindication, screening mammograms consist of these 4 views.

What does CC and MLO views mammography?

So, ‘Cranial-Caudal’ (CC) is a view from above. while an oblique or angled view ‘mediolateral-oblique’, or (MLO). The ‘medio-lateral view’, (ML) is a view from the center of the chest outward, whilst the ‘latero-medial’ view (or LM) is a view from the outer side of the breast, towards the middle of the chest.

What are magnification views?

Magnification views provide a clearer assessment of the borders and the tissue structures of a suspicious area or a mass. Magnification views are often used to evaluate micro-calcifications, tiny specks of calcium in the breast that may indicate a small cancer.

How serious is architectural distortion in breast?

Architectural distortion is considered a high risk entity and has been reported to represent the third most common finding of non-palpable breast cancers.

Should I worry about architectural distortion?

Architectural distortion without an explainable benign cause is a suspicious finding on mammography and warrants further analysis with a biopsy. Presence of an US correlate to the architectural distortion has a strong association with malignancy and can help in the assessment of its radiologic-pathologic concordance.

Article first time published on

What is Birads score?

The BI-RADS score is an acronym for the Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System score. It’s a scoring system radiologists use to describe mammogram results. A mammogram is an X-ray imaging test that examines breast health. It’s the most efficient tool to help detect breast cancer, especially at its earliest stage.

Why do I need a spot compression mammogram?

Spot compression (also called cone compression) may be used to get a closer view of one area of the breast during diagnostic mammography. To get a clearer image, a small compression plate separates the breast tissue in an area and pushes normal breast tissue out of the way.

What does left breast asymmetry mean on a mammogram?

A common abnormality seen on mammogram results is breast asymmetry. Breast asymmetry is usually no cause for concern. However, if there’s a large variation in asymmetry or if your breast density suddenly changes, this could be an indication of cancer.

How common is asymmetry on mammogram?

A developing asymmetry (Fig 1) is a focal asymmetry that was not present on the prior mammogram or has increased in size or conspicuity (1). It is very uncommon, seen on 0.16% of screening and 0.11% of diagnostic mammograms (5).

What does focal asymmetry mean on a 3d mammogram?

A focal asymmetry is a focal mammographic abnormality visible on at least two different mammographic projections [3]. A developing asymmetry is a focal asymmetry that is new or increasing in size or conspicuity compared with prior studies [3].

What is the difference between digital mammography and regular mammography?

There are two kinds of mammograms: digital and conventional. Both use X-ray radiation to produce an image of the breast, but conventional mammograms are read and stored on film, where digital mammograms are read and stored in a computer so the data can be enhanced, magnified, or manipulated for further evaluation.

How many pictures do you need for a mammogram?

Most often, two pictures are taken of each breast — one from the side and one from above. A screening mammogram takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.

Why have I been recalled after a mammogram?

Most women are recalled because an area has shown up on the mammogram and more information is needed before a result can be given. This could be an area of the breast that looks slightly different from the rest of the breast or the other breast, or from a previous mammogram if you’ve had one.

Is architectural distortion a mass?

Architectural distortion, the non-mass but potentially ominous clinical feature observed in many breast imaging procedures, is less likely to signal malignancy when it’s detected on screening mammography rather than diagnostic mammography or when it doesn’t correlate with a subsequent targeted ultrasound exam.

How often is architectural distortion cancerous?

CONCLUSION. The PPV of architectural distortion for malignancy is 74.5%. Architectural distortion is less likely to represent malignancy if detected on screening mammography than on diagnostic mammography or if there is no sonographic correlate.

Can a cyst cause architectural distortion?

Prior cyst aspiration, with correlating location and pathologic findings is a concordant result for benign AD, mimicking other more common causes of distortion such as malignancy, radial scar, sclerosing adenosis, fat necrosis, or post-surgical scarring.

What is the purpose of magnification in mammography?

Magnification mammography is used to improve diagnostic accuracy, especially in the evaluation of microcalcifications, by imaging a particular region of the breast. Magnification increases spatial resolution and the signal-to-noise ratio.

Is a spot compression mammogram painful?

The compression can make a mammogram painful for some women, but for most it is mildly uncomfortable, and the sensation lasts for just a short time. Still, some women may skip regular mammograms because they’re anxious or stressed about the discomfort.

What does architectural distortion look like?

Architectural distortion is a somewhat vague phrase used by radiologists, when the mammogram shows a region where the breasts normal appearance, looks like an abnormal arrangement of tissue strands, often a radial or perhaps a somewhat random pattern, but without any associated mass as the apparent cause of this …

What is an architectural distortion?

Architectural distortion is a mammographic finding associated with a high positive predictive value for malignancy. It is detected more frequently at tomosynthesis than at 2D digital mammography and may even be occult at conventional 2D imaging.

What does possible architectural distortion mean?

Share. Architectural distortion, which refers to distortion of the breast parenchyma with no definite mass visible, can have a malignant or benign cause.

What does a Category 1 mammogram mean?

A BI-RADS category 1 means the mammogram, breast ultrasound and/or MRI breast show no suspicious findings for cancer. “Negative” in this connotation is good – it means there are no signs to suggest breast cancer. The majority of breast imaging studies will fall in this category.

What does a cancerous lump look like on a mammogram?

What does breast cancer look like on a mammogram? Any area that does not look like normal tissue is a possible cause for concern. The radiologist will look for areas of white, high-density tissue and note its size, shape, and edges. A lump or tumor will show up as a focused white area on a mammogram.

What does cyst look like on mammogram?

On a mammogram, they can sometimes be seen as a smooth, round mass in the breast tissue. On ultrasound, they are usually smooth, round and black. Sometimes cysts do not have these typical features and they are difficult to distinguish from solid (non-fluid) lesions just by looking.

What are spot compression views?

A spot view (also known as a spot compression view or focal compression view) is an additional mammographic view performed by applying the compression to a smaller area of tissue using a small compression paddle, increasing the effective pressure on that spot.

How many pounds of pressure are in a mammogram?

Mammography, both 2D and 3D, is safe for women with breast implants. Most breast implants are designed to withstand hundreds of pounds of pressure. A mammogram generates an average of 20 lbs. of pressure.