Provided is an apparatus that can stably compress an inspection region and hence reduce a burden on a subject and a burden on an operator. An apparatus includes a fixed compression plate and a movable compression plate configured to hold an inspection region of a subject, the movable compression plate being movable relative to the fixed compression plate in a direction in which the inspection region is compressed and released while a compression surface of the movable compression plate is maintained substantially parallel to the fixed compression plate and a moving mechanism configured to move the movable compression plate. The moving mechanism includes a pair of linear guides configured to guide both end portions of the movable compression plate in a moving direction, and drive mechanisms respectively provided along the linear guides and configured to drive the movable compression plate at the both end portions.
