High-Tech Breast Care with Digital Mammography

One out of eight women will develop breast cancer some time during her life – this means one new diagnosis every two minutes. The death rates from breast cancer have declined significantly and medical experts attribute the decline to earlier detection and more effective treatments.

Digital mammography is one of the best ways to detect the disease. A 2005 study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute showed that digital mammography detects up to 28 percent more cancers than traditional mammography for women under the age of 50 or with dense breasts.

Faster and Safer Exams
Women in the Columbus community can now experience the high-tech benefits of digital mammography technology during their next mammogram with Columbus Community Hospital’s new Siemens MAMMOMAT NovationDR system. Digital mammograms provide many benefits for women, including:
• Less anxiety and discomfort due to shorter exam times and results that are seen more quickly.
• Fewer callbacks or retakes for additional images because images can be enhanced with the computer.
• Up to 40 percent less radiation dose over standard film mammography.

“Instead of traveling to other hospitals, women in our community can now receive the most advanced breast care right here at home,” said Denise Tomek, director of radiology. “Our new digital screening system provides comfortable screenings in a cozy, yet state-of-the-art environment.”

Digital Advantages
Just as digital cameras offer consumers many advantages over film cameras, digital mammography gives physicians the ability to obtain and manipulate highly-detailed images. If needed, the images can be shared with another physician to facilitate diagnoses. In addition, digital mammograms eliminate the need for film storage since images can be easily retrieved electronically.

Comfortable, Expert Care
Even with the most advanced technology at their disposal, Columbus Community Hospital’s 11 mammography-registered technologists strive to make mammograms as comfortable as possible. Housed in a warm, homelike suite, the new NovationDR system features flexible paddles and a patented technique called OpComp® that senses breast thickness for a more comfortable compression. Additional comfort is provided by a MammoPad, which cushions the breast during the mammogram and reduces the chill of the imaging plate on the breast and against the abdomen.

After the exam, most mammography patients leave the department with their results, according to Tomek. Patients also receive a letter from the radiologists explaining the findings of their exam in lay terms.

To learn more about digital mammography at Columbus Community Hospital, call the Diagnostic Radiology Department at 402-562-3180.

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