What is the primary purpose of compression in mammography?

The primary purpose of compression in mammography is to separate breast tissue and improve image quality. When the breast is compressed, it spreads out the tissue, which results in a more uniform thickness. This allows for better visualization of the internal structures within the breast and helps to minimize the effects of overlapping tissue that could obscure potential abnormalities.

Compression also reduces motion blur, as a stable, still breast leads to clearer images. Additionally, by bringing tissues closer to the detector, it can enhance contrast and detail in the images, which is essential for detecting small masses or calcifications that might indicate breast cancer.

While some might associate compression with patient comfort or standardization of imaging techniques, its most critical role lies in optimizing image quality for accurate diagnosis.