National Mammography Day Timeline

​1913

​German doctor detected breast cancer with x-ray machine

Albert Solomon, a surgeon in Berlin, used an x-ray machine to see breast cancer in 3,000 mastectomy samples.

​1956

​Houston radiologist improved mammography imagery

Robert Egan, a Houston-based radiologist, introduced specialized film for mammograms resulting in better imagery and details.

​1971

​Xeromammography introduced for commercial use

Xeromammography was commercially introduced as a method of providing better image quality of the chest wall.

​1988

​Congress approved mammography funding

Congress passed legislation providing funding for annual mammography screening as a Medicare benefit.

​2000

​Digital mammography approved

The FDA, the regulating agency for mammography, approved the first full-field digital mammography system.