Know the benefits of digital mammography


October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pictured is the Digital Mammography system at Veterans Memorial Hospital. The process of having a digital mammogram is very much the same as having a conventional screen-film mammogram, but the benefits of digital mammography are many. Digital mammography produces images that appear on the technologist’s monitor in a matter of seconds. The radiologist reviews the electronic images using special high-resolution monitors that can manipulate the images for more clarity to detect cancer even earlier. Digital mammography images can be easily stored in the computer for comparison with your next mammogram, and easily transmitted if needed. The Radiology Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital has now extended its hours into the evening to allow for more mammogram appointments to be scheduled after work. Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s state-certified, digital mammography machine was the first in the area when it was installed in 2009. This system allows the hospital to offer the latest, state-of-the-art technology to everyone needing a mammogram.  The advantages of digital mammography include the following:
• Digital mammography produces images that appear on the technologist’s monitor in a matter of seconds with no waiting for film to develop.
• With digital mammography, the radiologist reviews electronic images of the breast using special high-resolution monitors and can manipulate the images for more clarity to detect signs of cancer even earlier.
• Digital mammography images can be easily stored in the computer for comparison with your next mammogram, and if needed, easily transmitted to another medical facility without any loss of information, eliminating the dependence on only one set of original x-ray films.
• Another convenience of digital mammography over film-based systems is it can greatly reduce the need for retakes due to over or under exposure, which potentially saves additional time and reduces your exposure to x-rays.
The Radiology Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital has now extended its hours into the evening to allow for more mammogram appointments to be scheduled after work. For more information on digital mammography or to make an appointment, contact the Radiology Department at 563-568-3411.