What Happens When Women Have Control of Breast Compression During Mammography?

High-quality mammographic imaging requires the breast to be immobilized and substantially compressed to reduce radiation and improve viewing of glandular lesions; also, the breast must be pulled out so the posterior retroglandular fat and a strip of pectoralis muscle can be seen. This process can be so uncomfortable that many women avoid screening mammography. Investigators in France proposed allowing women to have control over the degree of breast compression during mammography. In a prospective trial involving 549 women in 6 cancer and imaging centers, participants were randomized to standard breast compression by the radiology technologist or self-controlled breast compression.

Imaging quality and degree of breast compression did not diff…