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Digital mammography takes an electronic image of the breast
and stores it directly in the computer. Sensors automatically
make adjustments so images can be enhanced, magnified or
manipulated for more accurate evaluation. You get clearer
views of tumors near the skin, areas that tend to be harder
to spot on conventional film screen mammography. And, for
women with dense breast tissue, it provides increased detail,
allowing the radiologist to zero in on tiny suspicious
areas that might otherwise escape detection.
Like conventional film-screen mammography, it uses the
same degree of pressure to compress the breast. But, it
reduces by half the 15 to 20 minutes usually needed for
a mammogram and lessens the chance you will have to be
recalled for further imaging by producing a clearer image.
| Screen-Film vs. Digital Mammography |
| Screen -
Film Mammogram |
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| Digital Mammogram |
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The difference between a screening mammogram and a diagnostic
mammogram
Screening:
The screening patient population includes female patients
with no symptoms (ie: lumps, thickening, and spontaneous
and/or bloody discharge). These patients are over the age
of thirty-five or, if under 35, they have had a previous
diagnostic examination and have a first degree relative
with breast cancer at an early age. Men may be considered
screening if they have had a personal history of breast
cancer more than five years prior and have no current symptoms.
Screening mammography patients that are not pregnant or
nursing will receive a minimum of images, including craniocaudal
(CC) and medio-lateral oblique (MLO) views. These routine
images are beamed to the radiologist via digital acquisition
and stored electronically. A computer-aided detection (CAD)
system reviews the images as they are sent to the radiologist.
If you are pregnant or nursing or think you may be pregnant,
please tell our staff before your mammogram. A technologist
will counsel you on the radiation risk before proceeding
with mammography, and you will be urged to re-schedule
to a later date when you have confirmation you are not
pregnant, or you are no longer pregnant or nursing. If
you request to proceed with the screening exam, you will
be asked to sign the consent to imaging waiver before any
images are taken.
After you leave our office, your mammogram images will
be reviewed in a timely manner by the radiologist, who
then issues a report. This report will be sent to your
physician(s) and you will receive a letter explaining,
in plain terms, the results of the screening exam. Requests
for additional imaging will also be included in the physician
report and your patient result letter. You should receive
your result letter within 10 days of your exam.
Diagnostic:
The diagnostic patient population includes patients with
symptoms (lumps, thickening, and spontaneous and/or bloody
discharge), patients with a previous mammographic abnormality,
patients with a surgical history of lumpectomy within the
last five years, patients who are pregnant or nursing,
and male patients.
Patients over the age of thirty that are not pregnant
or nursing will receive a minimum of images, including
craniocaudal(CC) and medio-lateral oblique(MLO) views.
These routine images are beamed to the radiologist via
digital acquisition. A computer-aided detection system
reviews the images as they are sent to the radiologist.
Patients under the age of thirty or those ladies who are
pregnant or nursing will first receive a physical exam
and ultrasound exam by the radiologist, to be followed
with mammography if needed. If the radiologist feels a
mammogram is necessary for proper diagnosis and you are
pregnant or nursing, you will be counseled on the radiation
risk before proceeding with mammography. If you accept
to proceed with mammographic imaging, you will be asked
to sign the consent to imaging waiver and your technologist
will shield your pelvis before any images are taken.
Additional views and sonography are at the discretion
of the supervising radiologist.
Physical examination and/or sonography are performed by
the radiologist and you will receive a preliminary, verbal
report from the radiologist before you leave the office.
A report will be issued and sent to your physician(s) and
you will receive a letter explaining the radiologist’s
final interpretation and recommendations within 10 days
of your exam.
Mammograms and breast implants
All patients are asked if they have breast implants when
they schedule their appointment for a mammogram. The technologist
will verify this before performing your mammogram.
Mammograms of breasts with implants will include a minimum
of eight images (as opposed to four images if there are
no implants present). This is because adequate compression
cannot be placed on the actual implant. Four of the images
will be made with the implant in view using minimal compression.
The remaining four images will be taken with the implant
displaced (pushed safely out of the image), using normal
compression. Only the implant displaced views will be reviewed
by a computer-aided detection system as they are sent to
the radiologist.
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