Early Detection is the Key
Because our primary goal has always been to deliver the highest
quality care to our patients, we are adding digital mammography
to our women’s health diagnostic services.
We have chosen the Selenia® Dimensions® 3D digital
mammography system from Hologic, the women's health company, because we believe that it offers the best technology available. Please call our office to schedule your annual mammogram.
What is Digital Mammography With 3D Tomosynthesis
What You Need to Know
A New Ally in the Fight Against Breast Cancer
Breast cancer will affect an average of one in eight women sometime in their
lifetime. It is the second most common cause of cancer related deaths in women.
Numerous studies prove that early detection is a vital component in the successful
treatment of breast cancer.
Mammograms play a central part in the early detection of breast cancer because
they can detect changes in the breast that may be early signs of cancer, but are
too small or subtle to be felt. The use of mammography has greatly enhanced the
ability to detect breast cancers at earlier stages. Now a new technology called full
field digital mammography shows great promise in the fight against breast cancer.
What is Full Field Digital Mammography
Digital mammography uses computers and specially designed digital detectors to
produce an image that can be displayed on a high-resolution computer monitor,
and transmitted and stored just like computer files.
From a patient’s point of view, having a digital mammogram is very much like having
a conventional screen-film mammogram. Both film-based and digital mammography
use compression and x-rays to create clear images of the inside of the breast.
During all mammography exams, the technologist positions the patient to image
the breast from different angles and compresses the breast with a paddle to obtain
optimal image quality. Unlike film-based mammography, digital mammograms
produce images that appear on the technologist’s monitor in a matter of seconds.
There is no waiting for film to develop, which can mean a shorter time spent in the
breast imaging suite.
The Benefits of Digital Mammography
Unlike other parts of the body, the breast is composed mainly of soft tissue.
When breast tissue is x-rayed, it creates an image that looks something like a
smoky haze, making it difficult to see tiny “spots,” called microcalcifications, and
other subtle signs of early cancer.
With digital mammography, the radiologist reviews electronic images of the breast,
using special high-resolution monitors. The physician can adjust the brightness,
change contrast, and zoom in for close ups of specific areas of interest. Being
able to manipulate images is one of the main benefits of digital technology.
Another convenience of digital mammography over film-based systems is it can
greatly reduce the need for retakes due to over or under exposure. This potentially
saves additional time and reduces your exposure to x-rays.
Because they are electronic, digital mammography images can be transmitted
quickly across a network. Digital images can also be easily stored, copied without
any loss of information, and transmitted and received in a more streamlined manner, eliminating dependence on only one set of “original” films.
An annual mammogram
is one of your best defenses
against breast cancer.