Women's health

The history of mammography

From bull-sized X-ray machines to special systems for mammography

8min

Ingo Zenger

Published on July 1, 2022

In those days, the technique known as mammography (from the Latin mamma, “breast”) was still in its infancy, but the equipment and knowledge available to Strax and and his colleagues were the result of a few decades of development.

What is mammography? What happens during an examination? These and other questions will be answered in the video.

Pioneers of mammography

Albert Salomon mit seiner Tochter Charlotte — In 1913, the surgeon Albert Salomon started to examine diseases of the breast by using X-rays. As X-ray equipment was not designed for imaging breast tissue, or at least not without considerable effort, Salomon could only use excised breast tissue in his research. By comparing the tissue with the X-ray images, he identified how diseased tissue spread and how it could be distinguished from healthy tissue, among other observations. He explained the diagnostic principles so comprehensively that subsequent researchers only needed to supplement his work with a small amount of theoretical knowledge.

Das Siemens Tridoros IV mit Mammatubus, das erste auf die Anforderungen der Mammographie optimierte Röntgengerät in der Geschichte von Siemens Healthineers, 1962 — In 1957, Heidelberg University launched a major study that was instrumental in helping mammography break through into clinical practice. A number of technical improvements have paved the way for the more widespread use of mammography. The X-ray machine used at Heidelberg University Women’s Hospital was the Siemens Tridoros IV. Although this equipment was not specifically developed for mammography, the physicians in Heidelberg worked with Siemens to optimize it to meet the exacting requirements of breast imaging with X-ray technology. For the first time, the X-ray tube was fitted with a cone that not only focused the X-rays but also compressed the breast in order to reduce the radiation load and improve detail recognition.

Philip Strax trägt wesentlich dazu bei, der Mammographie zum Durchbruch zu verhelfen

As early as possible

The new unit

Siemens Mammographiesystem Mammomat 1971

MAMMOMAT, 1972

Meilensteine der Mammographie

Mammomat Inspiration 3D-Brust-Tomosythese — The incorporation of **3D Breast Tomosynthesis** into the MAMMOMAT Inspiration digital mammography platform allows physicians to produce three-dimensional images of the breast. In the system an X-ray tube and the detector rotate around the breast in a 50-degree arc, recording 25 individual images at a very low dose. From this raw data, MAMMOMAT Inspiration generates high-resolution 3D images of the breast that can even reveal tumors that were previously concealed by overlapping tissue.

Siemens Healthineers MAMMOMAT Revelation — Der Siemens Healthineers **MAMMOMAT Revelation** ist das erste System, das die Brustdichte automatisch bestimmt. Ein Aufnahmewinkel von 50 Grad ist die Grundlage für 3D-Aufnahmen der Brust mit hervorragender Bildqualität, welche eine gezieltere, präzisere Biopsie ermöglichen. Außerdem erleichtert das System die Durchführung von Biopsien durch die "InSpect" Funktion. So kann nach der Entnahme von Brustgewebe die Probe direkt am Gerät überprüft werden.

Turn your city pink!

Im Jahre 2008 sind weltweit 34 „Mammo-Mobile“ rund um den Globus unterwegs, etwa in Dänemark, Polen und Georgien

"Turn your city pink!" - Collage nach einem Jahr Kampagne mit tausenden Teilnehmerfotos aus 76 Länder

By Ingo Zenger

Technology journalist and author at the Siemens Healthineers Historical Institute

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The history of mammography

Pioneers of mammography

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As early as possible

The new unit

Meilensteine der Mammographie

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1972

Turn your city pink!