Technical aspects of breast compression in mammography : patient comfort and impact on image quality

Blaško, Maruša (author), Kavazović, Sara (author), Malek, Ines (author), Rihter, Veronika (author), Šubelj, Nina (author), Gošnak Dahmane, Raja (author)

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among women worldwide. Mammography is the primary imaging modality for early detection of malignant breast changes and plays a crucial role in reducing breast cancer mortality. Breast compression is an essential component of mammography, significantly affecting image quality, radiation dose, and patient comfort. Adequate compression reduces breast thickness, minimises tissue overlap and motion, and improves image contrast. However, it may also cause discomfort or pain, which can negatively affect patient adherence to screening programmes. This review summarises the technical aspects of breast compression in mammography and discusses its impact on image quality and patient-reported comfort. A narrative review of relevant literature was conducted, focusing on breast anatomy, compression techniques, image quality parameters, and patient experience. The findings suggest that optimal compression represents a balance between technical image optimisation and patient-centred care, highlighting the vital role of radiographers in obtaining diagnostically adequate images while minimising patient discomfort.

• Language: English
• Keywords: mammography, breast compression, image quality, patient comfort, radiographer, breast anatomy
• Work type: Scientific work
• Typology: 1.08 - Published Scientific Conference Contribution
• Organization: ZF - Faculty of Health Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 2-9
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-185231
• UDC: 616-07
• DOI: 10.55295/PSL.14.2026.I1
• COBISS.SI-ID: 286354691
• Publication date in RUL: 29.07.2026

Record is a part of a monograph

• Title: Proceedings of Socratic Lectures : 14th international symposium, Ljubljana, April 17, 2026, Breast cancer
• Editors: Veronika Kralj-Iglič, Yelena Istileulova, Anna Romolo
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: University of Ljubljana Press
• Year: 2026
• ISBN: 978-961-297-859-4
• COBISS.SI-ID: 283502339

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.