What You Need to Know About Digital Mammography

A screening mammogram creates a digital image. The image is created electronically and read on a computer screen. A digital mammogram works better at finding breast cancer than a traditional mammogram done with X-ray film in pre- and perimenopausal woman. Women in this age group tend to have denser breast tissue. This tissue is better assessed with a digital method. The traditional mammogram is called analog mammography. No matter the type of equipment used, don't skip your mammogram because a digital mammogram is not available. 

Digital technology offers several potential advantages over the current film method for mammography. Unlike film images, digital images:

• Can be stored and transferred electronically

• Are less likely to get lost

• Can be manipulated to correct for underexposure or overexposure. This may prevent the need for another mammogram.

• Allow radiologists to use software to help interpret or read them

• Have a large dynamic range that allows examination of all areas of the breast, despite varying densities

• Have a lower average radiation dose

Many of the mammography machines in use today are digital units. The process of getting a digital mammogram is just like a regular mammogram. In fact, the only way you may know what type you get is to ask the technologist working with you.