Digital Mammography – Advanced Technology for Breast Health Screening

Digital mammography is your strongest ally in the fight against breast cancer. When it’s time for your annual mammogram, make it digital for the extraordinary care you deserve.

Mercy Medical Center has installed a state-of-the-art digital mammography system called the Senographe® 2000D made by GE Medical Systems.

This new mammography system produces breast images through computerization rather than X-ray film.

The advantages of the Senographe® 2000D include:

• Clear and easy-to-read images
• Better visibility – especially near the skin line
• Shorter exam time
• Fewer callbacks
• Faster results

What is the difference between a digital mammogram and a mammogram taken on conventional film?
The steps involved from your perspective will be very similar. How the images are captured and what health care providers can do with them set digital apart. Digital mammograms let your doctor focus in on the areas of concern, with enhanced readability and interpretation of the image. Digital also allows the image to be stored and transferred throughout the care network.

When should I have a mammogram?
If you are a woman 40 and over, you should have a mammogram every year to check for abnormalities or lumps that may indicate early stages of breast cancer. Mammograms can see cancerous lesions earlier than you can feel them with a self-exam.

How long will my digital mammogram take?
It will take about 10 to 15 minutes for your health care provider to acquire the images. The compression and positioning are the same as traditional mammography, but with less waiting time and 20 to 30 percent fewer callbacks. Your doctor will know right away if the image positioning is correct.

I’ve heard digital mammography is better for patients who have dense breasts. What is the difference between dense and fatty breasts?
Your breast contains varying amounts of glandular (dense) tissue and fatty tissue. The more glandular tissue, the denser the breast. Digital mammography is better for imaging dense breast tissue rather than a traditional film method.

Does a digital mammogram involve any radiation?
The amount of radiation you will receive is approximately the same as with a traditional film mammogram, but may be less if you have very dense breast tissue.

Is there anything I can do to make the exam go more smoothly?
It is best not to wear deodorant or powder the day of your exam, since it could affect the image. Also, wear a two-piece outfit because you’ll need to undress from the waist up. And, schedule your mammogram shortly after the end of your period to ease any discomfort.

Mercy Medical Center’s Center for Mammography offers screening and diagnostic mammograms, preoperative needle localizations, ductograms and stereotactic core biopsies. A stereotactic core biopsy is a computer-guided, minimally invasive way to get a sample of breast tissue for study.

Mercy’s Center for Mammography - first in the area offering full digital mammography is a licensed mammography facility by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and accredited by the American College of Radiology. The American College of Radiology, headquartered in Reston, VA, awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice.

The American Cancer Society recommends:

Women over age 40:

• Get annual mammograms
• Obtain an annual clinical breast exam by a health care professional
• Perform monthly breast self-exams

Women between ages 20 and 39:

• Obtain a clinical breast exam by a health care professional every three years
• Perform monthly breast self-exams