Benefits of digital mammograms

• Enhanced interpretation. Mammograms can be extremely difficult for radiologists to interpret. Digital mammograms, though, are stored electronically. That means they can be analyzed by computers as well as by radiologists.
• Image manipulation capabilities. Film mammogram images cannot be changed. Digital mammogram images can be manipulated digitally for better clarity and visibility. For instance, the contrast of the images can be changed where necessary to provide a clearer picture.
• Lower average radiation dosage. Digital mammograms may take more views of each breast than film mammograms. But they use approximately 25% less radiation than film mammograms. That’s because smaller areas of the breast are imaged in each view.
• Easier second opinions. Since digital mammograms are stored in computers, they can easily be sent electronically to other health care professionals for analysis.
• Easier to store. Film mammograms produce bulky sets of films that must be stored and revisited for comparison in future tests. Digital mammogram results are stored on computers for ease of access and retrieval.