The benefits of digital mammography compared to conventional film mammograms are numerous. The steps involved are very similar; however, it is how the images are captured and what the physician can do with them that set digital mammograms apart.
With digital mammograms, images appear in seconds on a computer screen, with exceptional clarity, better visibility at the skin line, shorter exam times and 20 to 30 percent fewer callbacks. Mammograms are completed in 10-to-15 minutes. Digital mammography transfers images to a computer so that they can be electronically enhanced. Radiologists can zoom in, magnify and optimize different parts of the breast tissue using just four standard images.
Digital mammograms are preferred for women with dense breast tissue, traditionally younger women or women on hormone replacement therapy.
In addition to providing digital mammography at all facilities, St.David's HealthCare is the only Central Texas provider to use the MammoPad—a soft foam cushion that makes mammograms more comfortable for women—for all patients at all facilities. Invented by a breast surgeon, the MammoPad creates a soft, warm surface during a mammogram, instead of the traditional cold, harsh experience that many women expect. With the MammoPad, patients are more relaxed, allowing technicians to get better image quality. Overall, the MammoPad creates an experience that is both high tech and high touch for patients.
Women age 40 or over should have a yearly mammogram to check for abnormalities or lumps that may indicate early stages of breast cancer. Mammograms can see cancerous lesions earlier than they can be detected with a self-exam. Other factors, such as a family history of premenopausal breast cancer or genetic predisposition to breast cancer may require women to start mammograms at an earlier age.
Steps that women can follow to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer include:
- Having children before age 30
- Breastfeeding
- Limiting alcohol intake to one drink per day
- Maintaining a healthy weight and
- Exercising regularly
Les Handlin
Director, Imaging Services,
St. David's Round Rock Medical Center
St. David's Georgetown Hospital