Final answer:
The primary goal of compression during mammography is to enable uniform penetration of X-rays through the breast, thereby improving image quality and aiding in the detection of breast abnormalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary goal of compression during mammography is to allow uniform penetration of structures within the breast, which is essential for the adequate visualization of breast tissue. Compression helps by spreading out the breast tissue, which in turn reduces the thickness of the area that X-rays need to penetrate. This reduction in thickness enables a lower X-ray dose to be used, decreases the likelihood of motion blur, and maintains image quality by minimizing the overlap of structures within the breast.
It should be noted that while compression does indeed reduce the radiation dose to the breast and can help to minimize motion during the exposure, these are secondary benefits. The improvement in image quality is primarily achieved by achieving more uniform density and thickness of the breast tissue, which allows for better visualization of any abnormalities like lumps or regions of increased density, which can be critical for the early detection of breast cancer.