Is pain from mammography reduced by the use of a radiolucent MammoPad? Local experience in Hong Kong

Diagnosis and management of hidradenitis suppurativa in women

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disease that disproportionately affects women of childbearing age. Hidradenitis suppurativa is characterized by painful nodules, abscesses, draining dermal tunnels, and scarring with a predilection for intertriginous sites, such as the axilla, groin, and breast regions. Delay in diagnosis and treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa often results in long-term sequelae leading to significant morbidity, and rarely mortality, in these patients. This clinical opinion suggests that obstetrician-gynecologists are uniquely poised to recognize early signs of hidradenitis suppurativa during routine well-woman examinations and initiate treatment or referral to dermatology. Herein, we provide clinical pearls for obstetrician-gynecologists caring for female patients with hidradenitis suppurativa, including strategies for comprehensive management and recommendations to improve the comfort of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa during examinations.

Influence of Discomfort Tolerance of Women who Undergo Mammography on the Perceived Pain Intensity Due to the Procedure

Objective

This study aims to determine the capacity to tolerate discomfort by women who undergo mammography.

Materials and Methods

The data were obtained using the face-to-face interview method immediately after the procedure with women who undergo mammography (n=132). Demographic data collection form and the Discomfort Intolerance Scale was used for data collection.

Results

Among the women, 78.8% experienced pain during mammography and the pain intensity was determined as 3.55 (standard deviation=3.00) on the 0-10 Visual Analogue Scale. Women who were not on pain relievers and nonsmokers have high discomfort tolerance. Women who were consuming substances containing methylxanthine (eg. chocolate) tend to avoid discomfort. Women with a history of breast mass and abnormal test results did not avoid discomfort as much as women who undergo regular checkup mammograms. Most of the women experience pain during mammography, and avoidance from discomfort increases as the perceived pain during the procedure increases.

Conclusion

Conducting different studies using the same scale can be useful in evaluating the discomfort experienced during mammography and its contribution to reducing pain.