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Breast cancer is one of the most easily treated forms of
cancer if caught early enough. Widespread use of mammography
to detect lumps and even pre-cancerous cellular changes is
regarded as one of the most successful innovations in modern
public health.
An important study called DMIST (Digital Mammographic Imaging
Screening Trial), sponsored by the National Cancer Institute
and published online by the New England Journal of Medicine
showed that 65% of women would benefit from the use of digital
mammography over the tradition film screen mammography (see
DMIST). These women are;
- under age 50 (regardless of level of
breast tissue density)
- of any age, with heterogeneously
(very dense) or extremely dense breast tissue.
- or pre or perimenopausal women of any
age (defined as women who had a last menstrual period within
12 months of their mammograms).
In film mammography, which has been used for over 35 years,
the image is created directly on a film. A major limitation of
film mammography is the film itself. Once a film mammogram is
obtained, it cannot be significantly altered; if the film is
underexposed, for example, contrast is lost and cannot be
regained. Digital mammography takes an electronic image of the
breast and stores it directly in a computer.
Digital offers some obvious advantages beyond the higher
sensitivity for certain groups of patients. Images made on a
computer are easier to store and move from one medical office
to another, see DOI Online Reports. |
