In the context of breast imaging, what does increased compression help achieve?

In breast imaging, increased compression is crucial for achieving improved visualization of structures within the breast tissue. By applying greater compression, the breast is flattened, which helps to spread out the tissue. This minimizes overlapping structures and reduces the thickness of the tissue being imaged, allowing for clearer differentiation between normal breast tissue and potential abnormalities. Enhanced tissue separation helps radiologists to detect lesions or subtle changes more effectively, leading to improved diagnostic accuracy.

Additionally, increased compression can help reduce motion blur by stabilizing the breast, thus making it less likely for the patient to move during imaging. Overall, the benefits of compression in mammography are significant in optimizing image quality and facilitating accurate assessment.