In all the chapters the Case Studies represent situations similar to those that the medical assistant may encounter in daily practice. Students are encouraged to consider the case study as they read each chapter.

A 42-year-old woman has arrived at the office for her annual physical, part of which involves scheduling her to have a mammogram performed. The patient completes the procedure, which comes back revealing a small, abnormal density. The physician asks you to schedule the patient for a CT scan of the breast, which also reveals an abnormal mass. The patient decides that she wants to be more aggressive in determining if the small mass is cancerous, so you now schedule a mammotest, which is used to determine that the mass is benign with no evidence of cancer.

As you read this chapter, consider the following questions:

1. What special instructions should be given to the patient before her mammogram?

2. How is a CT scan performed?

3. When preparing a patient for a CT scan, what allergies should be disclosed during the patient interview?

4. Why was a mammotest requested by the physician?

5. What education requirements must you fulfill in order to work as a radiographer/sonographer?