Patient-Friendly Summary of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria: Breast Imaging of Pregnant and Lactating Women

Pregnant women under the age of 30 at high risk for breast cancer, pregnant women age 30 to 39 at medium or high risk for breast cancer, and pregnant women 40 and older should receive screening mammography with lead shielding to minimize radiation exposure to the fetus. Alternatively, screening may be performed using digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), a 3-D mammographic technology. Ultrasonography may be used as an additional screening tool  for patients with dense breasts. Ultrasonography is particularly valuable when patients display a noticeable lump.
Source: Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Appropriate Use Criteria Source Type: research