title: [Discomfort and pain during mammography].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mammography is the most important method for early detection of breast cancer, however, patients frequently complain of discomfort and pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate how often discomfort and pain are felt during mammography and identify factors that may be associated to these complaints.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study including 2,164 patients recruited from public (996) and private (1,168) health services was carried out. After the imaging procedure, patients quantified pain using a linear analogical scale. Discomfort was qualitatively evaluated by multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Discomfort was reported by 90% of the patients, and of these 12% rated the sensation as intense or intolerable. Only 2% of the women in the study group did not feel any pain during the procedure. Factors associated to pain were: age, use of birth control methods (BCM), previous mastalgia and patients from the private health sector. Discomfort was independently associated to the service where the procedure was performed (OR = 2.50 IC 1.64-5.17) and to previous mastalgia (OR = 3.15 IC 1.96-7.12). When asked about a repeat mammography, 98% of the patients said they would comply.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young women (< 50 years), BCM users, mastalgia patients and women who were using the services of a private clinic felt more intense pain and discomfort during mammography.
authors.affiliation: Serviços de Ginecologia e Mama e de Radiologia da Associação de Combate ao Câncer em Goiás. ruffojr@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Ruffo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Walsir Faganelo
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Fiori
authors.forename: Francisco José de Faria
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Godinho
authors.forename: Rosemar Macedo Sousa
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Rahal
authors.forename: Jayme Gonçalves
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011312:Pressure; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral