Over-the-counter anesthetic gel reduces mammogram discomfort

August 18, 2008 Over-the-counter anesthetic gel reduces mammogram discomfort The Radiological Society of North America -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The simple application of lidocaine gel may reduce the breast discomfort some women experience during mammography exams, according to the results of a clinical trial from Idaho. Compression and the occasional discomfort and pain it brings in the breasts lead many women to avoid mammograms altogether. Serious clinical data suggest that as many as two-thirds of women do not follow established guidelines for mammography. By using lidocaine gel, mammographers can offer relief to women who otherwise expect a grueling ordeal, said principal investigator Colleen Lambertz, a nurse practitioner at St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise.

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