What is Digital Mammography?

What is Digital Mammography?

 Conventional film screen mammography is analogous to personal photographic cameras and film, where light is focused on the film and developed to produce a negative which can be printed as a picture. With digital mammography, low energy x-rays pass through the breast exactly like conventional mammograms but the image is recorded by means of an electronic digital detector, instead of film.  Like a digital camera, this digital image can be displayed on a computer screen.  The radiologist can manipulate the digital mammogram electronically to magnify an area, change contrast, or alter the brightness.  In addition, computer aided diagnosis programs can be used to further increase the sensitivity of the test.

How will this benefit the Patient?

 It will reduce exam time.  The patient will be exposed to a lowered dose of radiation compared to a conventional mammogram.  The exceptional image quality will reduce unnecessary recalls by 20%, minimizing patient anxiety.  The new unit will be faster, resulting in more patients being examined per day.

 Currently we have a 6-week waiting list which would be shortened significantly with the new unit.  The decreased mortality rate for breast cancer is due to increased screening – Mammography does save lives.  The new system would also eliminate retakes and lost films, as this would be a film-less, paperless system integrated into the regional PACS (picture archive communication system.)

Dr. Amit Mehta, Regional Medical Director Diagnostic Imaging

“Medical technology in diagnostic imaging is advancing by leaps and bounds every year. By investing in leading technology and equipment, our medical team can diagnose more patients not only faster but with greater accuracy and insight. As a physician specialist who sees thousands of patients every year, I cannot express how critical it is to have the tools we need to treat our patients and improve their outcomes. This is all about quality care.”

Rosemary Auld, Community Leader, Board Member SCG Foundation

“I am sure that we all know someone who has been touched and I very recently lost my sister to cancer. For women over the age of 50, early detection is vital when it comes to detecting breast cancer. The more we can do to detect breast cancer sooner, the more we will be able to help women in our community. The purchase of this digital mammography unit for the Evangelista Adams Centre is a wonderful investment in health that will do so much for so many.” 

Did you know...

Early detection through mammography in women over the age of 50 has been shown to reduce mortality by approx. 30%.

On average, 431 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every week.

On average, 102 Canadian women will die of breast cancer every week.

One in 9 women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime.