By Michelle Oleson

These days, it can be hard to keep up with rapidly-advancing technologies in any industry. Just look at televisions. The latest and greatest television set one year can be considered almost ancient the next. But, when digital imaging technology arrived on the scene—most famously in the form of digital cameras—many people probably didn’t realize the numerous ways it could improve our lives.

Take mammograms, for example. Most women know how vital it is to have a mammogram done every year when they reach age 40. With breast cancer being the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, the mammogram remains the number one tool for detecting the disease early. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says mammograms can detect some forms of breast cancer up to three years before lumps can be felt.

“Mammograms detect breast cancer by identifying calcium deposits in the breast, an early sign of the cancer,” said Steve Szabo, MD, oncologist at Emory Johns Creek Hospital. “Studies show that discovering breast cancer early plays a large role in developing more effective treatments and increasing chances of survival.”

A mammogram is an X-ray of the internal breast structure. Whether it uses traditional film or newer full-field digital imaging technology, a mammogram compresses the breast between plates to flatten the tissue as thin as possible. Pictures are taken and reviewed by a radiologist, who reports results to the patient’s doctor. Patients are able to receive results in a matter of days, or even sooner if there is a problem.

“While we always stress the importance of either a traditional or digital mammogram to patients, digital mammograms can often give us a better picture of breast health in many circumstances,” said JoAnne Biafore, MD, radiologist and breast imaging specialist at Emory Johns Creek Hospital Breast Center. “We use digital mammography at Emory Johns Creek Hospital because it allows images to be transferred to a computer and enhanced or magnified. We also use computer aided detection (CAD) software systems to help find abnormalities. That gives us a second set of eyes in examining breast tissue, allowing us to look at tissue from different angles.”

She said digital mammograms can be performed in approximately half the time as film-based mammograms and expose patients to about half the radiation. She also said the pictures are shared more easily, and patients are less likely to be called back for re-imaging.

In addition, several other studies have shown that the benefits of digital mammography don’t end there. Digital mammograms tend to find abnormalities better in women with dense breasts, meaning they have a fair amount of glandular breast tissue, in women who are less than 50 years old, and in pre- or peri-menopausal women.

 “We don’t know how to prevent breast cancer currently, so mammograms, combined with regular self-exams and clinical exams are the best ammunition we have in the fight against the disease,” said Dr. Biafore. “Even though they can be uncomfortable, they shouldn’t be painful and they don’t take long to perform, so there aren’t many excuses to not have one.”

The American Cancer Society says mammograms detect 80-90 percent of breast cancers in women without symptoms and early detection has played a big part in the reduction of breast cancer deaths since 1990. So the bottom line is whether it’s a film-based or digital mammogram, just have one.

Dr. Jo Anne Biafore is on staff at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.  Dr. Steven Szabo is the Chief of Medicine for Emory Johns Creek Hospital.