A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast that uses a small amount of radiation. A technologist will position your breast for the test. The breast will be compressed between two plates, and a picture will be taken. Compressing the breast flattens and spreads the tissue, providing a clearer picture of the inside of the breast, making it easier to detect any changes. The technologist will then reposition the breast and the plates for a second picture. The entire mammogram process takes about twenty minutes.
If you have dense breasts, are at high risk of breast cancer, or have already been diagnosed with breast cancer, your doctor may use a contrast-enhanced mammogram to help see your breast more clearly. This procedure uses a type of dye that helps your doctor find new blood vessels in your breast - which form when cancers grow - more easily.