Apparatus are provided for providing cushioning on devices requiring the patient or tissue to be compressed, such as radiography machines, fluoroscopy units, mammography units and the like. In particular a radiolucent pad element is provided for releasable attachment to at least one surface of a compression device to be used under x-ray, for example, during mammography. The pad element of the present application can be disposable or constructed to be reusable and in some cases may be applied directly to the patients breast. Furthermore, a cushioned compression paddle or x-ray plate is provided wherein said compression paddle or x-ray plate and said cushion can be separately or integrally formed.
