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A member asked:
What is the difference between a diagnostic vs screening mammogram?
7 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Symptoms: A screening mammography is done as a routine exam. There are no symptoms. No masses have been felt. The patient is being screened. A diagnostic mammo is done because there is some reason other than routine. A mass has been felt, there is a discharge from the nipple, etc. Additional views may be taken. Sometimes a needle aspiration will be done at the same time.
Answered 5/16/2017
5.6k views
A screening: mammogram is an evaluation of both breasts that is performed on asymptomatic women to try and detect signs of breast cancer. A diagnostic mammogram consists of special views, and is usually targeted to a specific area of the breast, to further evaluate a potential abnormality seen on screening mammo or felt on clinical exam.
Answered 7/14/2014
3.9k views
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