What You Need to Know About Digital Mammography

A screening mammogram that produces a digital image is just as effective at finding breast cancer as a traditional mammogram done with X-rays. The traditional mammogram is called analog mammography. No woman should skip her mammogram because a digital mammogram is not available. 

But 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, potentially eliminating 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

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.