ARE WE PERFECT YET? Assessing our Images: The CC

We are responsible for assessing patient images not only for diagnostic adequacy but also for jurisdictional accreditation of our departments and for certification of our own licenses. This becomes an awesome obligation and often a source of great stress for the mammographic technologist. Evaluation of patient images follows certain established criteria. Assessment simply follows these guidelines.

WHAT MUST WE SEE IN THE CC PROJECTION?

1. MEDIAL NUB
2. NIPPLE IN PROFILE
3. TAIL OF SPENCE
4. PECTORAL SHADOW
5. TISSUE SPREAD ADEQUATELY
6. PNL WITHIN 1CM OF MLO

WHEN DO WE SEE THE MEDIAL CROSS-OVER?

WHEN DON'T WE SEE THE MEDIAL CROSS-OVER?

WHEN DO WE SEE THE NIPPLE IN PROFILE?

WHEN DON'T WE SEE THE NIPPLE IN PROFILE?

WHEN DO WE SEE RETRO MAMMARY SPACE?

WHEN DON’T WE SEE RETRO MAMMARY SPACE?

WHEN DO WE SEE PECTORAL SHADOW?
Perfectly Demonstrated Pectoralis

Adequately Demonstrated Pectoralis

WHEN DON'T WE SEE PECTORAL SHADOW?

MEASURING THE POSTERIOR NIPPLE LINE

The PNL on the CC projection is ALWAYS measured from the base of the nipple directly back to the film edge. The measurement is taken this way irregardless of pectoralis shadow or improper positioning.

IS THE BREAST ADEQUATELY ELEVATED?

Summary:
Our mission as mammographers gets more complicated every year. We are called upon to assess patients, images, equipment and services. Breast imaging is complex but not beyond skills. Everything follows certain recognized standards, adhere to these and things will not seem so demanding.