Cancer
Specific Cancers: Breast Cancer
Prevention and Screening

What to Know About Digital Mammography

A mammogram that is a digital image is just as effective at finding breast cancer as one done traditionally with X-rays, which is called analog mammography.

Digital technology offers several potential advantages over the current film/screen method for mammography. Unlike film images, digital images:

  • Can be stored and transferred electronically

  • Can be manipulated to correct for underexposure or overexposure, potentially eliminating the need for another mammogram

  • Have a large dynamic range that allows examination of all areas of the breast, despite varying densities

Online Source: National Cancer Institute http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/DMISTQandA
Online Editor: Sylvia Byrd RN MBA
Online Medical Reviewer: Dezube, Bruce MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Kanipe, Jennifer RN, BSN
Online Medical Reviewer: Stump-Sutliff, Kim RN, MSN, AOCNS
Date Last Reviewed: 8/8/2009
Date Last Modified: 8/8/2008
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