Remember the first time you accessed the Internet from your home and dial-up technology was the norm? Well, technology has come a long way since then, both in terms of accessing the Internet and in the field of mammography.
The differences between digital and traditional mammography are similar to the differences between digital and traditional film photography.
Digital mammogram images are viewed on a computer screen, making it possible to enhance and manipulate the images to magnify any areas of concern.
Analog mammograms, which have been used since the 1970s, are film images that are viewed against a lit background and require processing time in a darkroom. In recent years, this type of mammogram has fallen out of favor, as full-field digital mammography has proven to be more effective at detecting cancer. This is especially true in women under the age of 50, those with dense breast tissue and premenopausal or perimenopausal women.
Some imaging providers still offer analog, while some offer both analog and digital. As a patient, the digital experience is no different, so it’s important to ask for digital when you schedule your mammogram. As Director of Women’s Imaging, I am proud to say that Oregon Imaging Centers is certified to offer 100 percent full-field digital mammography.
Nearly half (47 percent) of the total possible population of 70 million women over the age of 40 could benefit from full-field digital mammography. In addition to producing a better picture, it often delivers a lower overall dose of radiation to the breast.
Remember, early detection saves lives. In fact, if breast cancer is diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate is over 95 percent.
You wouldn’t want to go back to dial-up, so don’t be afraid to ask about digital when you schedule your next mammogram. And make sure the radiologist who is reading your digital image is specially trained in breast imaging. Because when it comes to your breast health, you deserve nothing less than the best.
