Name the investigating procedure which involves taking x-ray pictures of the bare breasts while they are compressed between two plastic plates?

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Mammography is a medical imaging technique that uses low-dose X-rays to examine the human breast.
It is used as both a screening tool for early detection of breast cancer in asymptomatic women and a diagnostic tool for women who have symptoms like a lump or nipple discharge.
The procedure described in the question, involving X-rays and compressing the breast between two plates, is the standard method for performing a mammogram.

Option A: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a type of biopsy, not an imaging procedure. It involves using a needle to extract cells or fluid from a lump for analysis.
Option B: While a stereotactic biopsy uses mammography for guidance, its primary purpose is to obtain a tissue sample (biopsy) from a non-palpable lesion, not just to take pictures. The question describes the imaging procedure itself.
Option D: A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a surgical procedure to determine if cancer has spread beyond the primary tumor into the lymphatic system. It does not involve imaging the breast tissue with X-rays.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Breast Cancer Diagnostic and Screening Procedures as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Mammography is the gold standard for breast cancer screening and is credited with significantly reducing mortality through early detection.
Nurses play a crucial role in patient education, explaining the importance of regular screening, what to expect during the procedure (including the temporary discomfort from compression), and instructing patients to avoid deodorants, antiperspirants, or lotions on the day of the exam as these can interfere with the image quality.
What if a patient has dense breasts? The sensitivity of mammography can be lower in women with dense breast tissue. In such cases, supplemental imaging like a breast ultrasound or MRI may be recommended in addition to the mammogram.

How to Approach the Question

First, break down the question stem to identify the key elements of the procedure being described: 1) it uses 'x-ray pictures', and 2) the breasts are 'compressed between two plastic plates'.
Recognize that 'X-ray' points to a radiological imaging technique.
Evaluate the options based on this information. 'Fine-needle aspiration' and 'sentinel lymph node biopsy' are biopsy/surgical procedures, not primary imaging techniques, so they can be eliminated.
Differentiate between the remaining two options. 'Stereotactic biopsy' uses X-ray guidance but is a procedure to sample tissue. 'Mammography' is the name of the imaging procedure itself.
Conclude that the description in the question perfectly matches the definition of mammography.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Breast Cancer Diagnostic and Screening Procedures
Stem keywords: investigating procedure, x-ray pictures, bare breasts, compressed
Lead-in keywords: Name
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 2 Part 3 pp. 49-51, 48-50

Practise the full DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.