What is Digital Mammography?

Mammography, also known as a mammogram, is the examination of the breasts using x-rays. Mammography is considered the most effective tool for early breast tumor detection. Most medical experts agree that successful treatment of breast cancer often is linked to early diagnosis.

There are two types of mammography, screening and diagnostic. Screening mammography is used for patients with no symptons or concerns. Two standard images are taken of each breast. Diagnostic mammography is a specialized mammogram designed to solve a particular problem. The radiologist designs each exam in order to answer the particular problem at hand.

Our practice uses digital mammography. Also known as a full-field digital mammography, digital mammography produces images that are shown on a high resolution monitor. Because the images are digital, they allow the radiologist to alter the magnification, brightness and contrast of the images to produce detailed images . Computer-aided detection, or CAD, uses complex algorithms to aid the radiologist in noting abnormal areas of density, mass, or calcification that may alert the radiologist to the presence of cancer. The CAD system highlights these areas on the images, alerting the need for further analysis.

What are the advantages of digital mammography and computer-aided detection?

    Compared to conventional mammography, digital mammography images are processed more quickly.

    The superior contrast resolution of digital mammography and its ability to manipulate images make for more accurate detection of breast cancer.

    Computer-aided detection, or CAD, obtains a second, computerized reading in the hope of finding more cancers and more accurately gauging signs of malignancy.

    Digital mammograms can be archived in various ways and easily retrieved, and copied.