MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Mammography

Skip navigation

Medical Encyclopedia

Mammography

Mammography is a low-powered x-ray technique that gives a picture of the internal structure of the breast. Additional angles and magnified views are taken of suspicious areas. A mammogram may help in the diagnosis of breast problems including cancer. It is recommended a woman have a baseline mammogram at age 40 followed by a mammogram every couple of years until age 50. After 50, a woman should have a mammogram every year.

Update Date: 12/1/2005

Updated by: Sharon Roseanne Thompson, M.D., M.P.H., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2008, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.