Mammography is a specific type of imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system to examine breasts. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, is used to aid in the diagnosis of breast diseases in women.
Mammograms are used as a screening tool to detect early breast cancer in women experiencing no symptoms and to detect and diagnose breast disease in women experiencing symptoms such as a lump, pain or nipple discharge.
Screening Mammogram at Baptist M&S Imaging in San Antonio
Mammography plays a central part in early detection of breast cancers because it can show changes in the breast up to two years before a patient or physician can feel them. Current guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) recommend screening mammography every year for women, beginning at age 40. Research has shown that annual mammograms lead to early detection of breast cancers, when they are most curable and breast-conservation therapies are available.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) adds that women who have had breast cancer and those who are at increased risk due to a genetic history of breast cancer should seek expert medical advice about whether they should begin screening before age 40 and about the frequency of screening.
Diagnostic Mammogram at Baptist M&S Imaging in San Antonio
Diagnostic mammography is used to evaluate a patient with abnormal clinical findings—such as a breast lump or lumps—that have been found by the patient or her doctor. Diagnostic mammography may also be done after an abnormal screening mammography in order to determine the cause of the area of concern on the screening exam.
Two recent enhancements to traditional mammography include digital mammography and computer-aided detection.
Digital Mammography at Baptist M&S Imaging in San Antonio
Digital mammography, also called full-field digital mammography (FFDM), is a mammography system in which the x-ray film is replaced by solid-state detectors that convert x-rays into electrical signals. These detectors are similar to those found in digital cameras. The electrical signals are used to produce images of the breast that can be seen on a computer screen or printed on special film similar to conventional mammograms.
Baptist M&S Imaging in San Antonio utilizes the GE Senographe 2000D. 13 years, and $150 million dollars in the making, the GE Senographe 2000D helps physicians detect and diagnose breast cancer in patients earlier and more accurately. The images are clear, easy to read and offer a better view of the breast, especially near the skin line, chest wall, and in women with all breast tissue types.
Computer-aided detection (CAD) systems use a digitized mammographic image that can be obtained from either a conventional film mammogram or a digitally acquired mammogram. The computer software then searches for abnormal areas of density, mass, or calcification that may indicate the presence of cancer. The CAD system highlights these areas on the images, alerting the radiologist to the need for further analysis.
From the patient's point of view, digital mammography is essentially the same as the screen-film system with the following advantages:
- Reduced exam times
- Reduced callbacks because image can be manipulated to enhance areas of over-exposure
- Better tissue visibility at skin line & chest wall than film
- Lower radiation dose in dense breast tissue than film
Is Digital mammography better than regular (Analog) mammography?
The New England Journal of Medicine published an article in September 2005 where over 49,000 patients were studied to contrast Digital vs. Analog Mammography and found that Digital mammography was more accurate in women under the age of 50, women with radiographically dense breasts, and premenopausal or perimenopausal women. For a complete copy of the abstract click here.
Baptist M&S Imaging is dedicated to providing the latest in imaging technology for you and your patients.
Digital Mammography – Now offered at the following Baptist M&S Imaging San Antono locations:
M&S Imaging Center Downtown
M&S Imaging Center Medical Center
M&S Imaging Center North Central
M&S Imaging Center Southeast
M&S Imaging Center Westover Hills
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