Which of the following is a primary purpose of compression during a mammography exam?

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Compression works by flattening the breast against the detector so the tissue becomes thinner and more uniform. This thinning reduces the amount of tissue the X-ray must penetrate, which lowers scattered radiation and improves image sharpness and contrast. With a more uniform, thinner layer of tissue, overlapping structures are minimized, making small calcifications and subtle masses easier to detect. The consistent compression also helps the exposure be more uniform across the image, reducing motion blur and enabling the use of lower kVp settings, which further lowers the radiation dose to the patient. While compression can be uncomfortable, its primary purpose is to enhance image quality and safety, not to shorten the exam or eliminate views.