Compression and shielding device

An X-ray mammography system, comprising:

• an X-ray source,
• an X-ray detector,
• a breast support,
• a compression element, and
• a shielding,
• wherein the X-ray source is arranged to direct X-ray radiation to a breast to be examined,
• wherein the X-ray detector is arranged to detect X-ray radiation having passed through the breast to be examined,
• wherein the breast support is arranged to support the breast to be examined,
• wherein the compression element is arranged to compress a part of the breast to be examined, and
• wherein the shielding is arranged between the X-ray source and the compression element to shield an uncompressed part of the breast from the X-ray radiation, and is formed to allow the direction of X-ray radiation to the compressed part of the breast and to keep an uncompressed part of the breast uncovered.

A method for X-ray mammography, comprising:

• arranging a breast to be examined on a breast support,
• compressing a part of the breast to be examined in a compression element,
• arranging a shielding between an X-ray source and the compression element to shield an uncompressed part of the breast from X-ray radiation, and
• conducting an examination of the compressed part of the breast,
• wherein the shielding is arranged between the X-ray source and the compression element to shield the uncompressed part of the breast from the X-ray radiation, and is formed to allow the direction of X-ray radiation to the compressed part of the breast and to keep the uncompressed part of the breast uncovered.