Pain during mammography: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. Mammography screening is crucial for early detection. However, breast compression can cause pain and may impact patients’ participation. In this study, we aimed to determine the pain level perceived by patients during mammography examination with the visual analog scale (VAS). Materials and Methods: The study included a total of 140 consecutive patients (all female, mean age of 51±9, between 35 and 89) who applied to the Ra- diology Department of a tertiary hospital and underwent mammography for screening or diagnostic purposes. Cases undergoing mammography-guided interventional procedures were not included. Immediately, after mammography, patients were asked to rate their pain levels under the compression effect of mammography on the VAS in a face-to-face interview with an anesthesiologist. A statistical analysis was performed to determine the association between the breast pattern, applied pressure, the results of the mammogram, and the VAS score. Results: About 66% of the patients stated that they felt 4 or more pain during mammography compression. The median VAS was 5 (interquantile range: 4). Breast patterns affected the VAS score. The VAS score of 57% of the patients with fatty breasts and 77% of the patients with dense breasts reported pain with a VAS of 4 and above (Pearson Chi-square, p=0.01). Applied pressure (p=0.07) or the mammography results (p=0.31) did not affect the VAS score. Conclusion: Mammography is a moderately painful procedure. It is necessary to use pain-relieving strategies to stop women from avoiding mammography. All appropriate medical interventions, including algology, should be used in this situation.