Over-the-counter anesthetic reduces breast imaging pain
Researchers in Idaho have found that a little lidocaine gel applied topically reduces breast discomfort experienced during mammography.
The simple technique could lead more women to comply with recommended guidelines for mammographic screening.
Lead investigator Colleen Lambertz, and colleagues at St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise recruited 418 women ages 32 to 89 scheduled for mammography screening. Fifty-four of them had reportedly delayed their exams over discomfort fears. They were randomized for medication with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, lidocaine gel, or placebos before mammography. Women who received a topical application reported significantly less breast discomfort during mammography. The study was published in the September issue of Radiology.
Contrast-Enhanced Mammography and High-Concentration ICM Dosing: What a New Study Reveals
June 16th 2025New research showed a 96 to 97 percent sensitivity for contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) with an increased iodine delivery rate facilitating robust contrast enhancement for women with aggressive breast cancer.
