Digital Mammography Offers Even Lower Radiation Dose

A new study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology shows that digital mammography delivers even less radiation than conventional film mammography. This is another step forward for breast cancer screening with mammography, which saves thousands of lives each year through early detection.

Mammography and Radiation

When you get a mammogram, a very small dose of radiation is used to take a picture of your breasts. It's about the same amount that you would get from your natural surroundings during three months. Because the dose is low, the benefits of mammography outweigh the risks from the radiation.

Nonetheless, researchers wanted to compare the radiation doses delivered with digital and standard film mammography. To do this, they looked at data from 5,102 women who underwent both types of breast cancer screening. They found that the average dose of radiation per person was 17 percent lower for digital mammography.

Digital Mammography Defined

Digital mammography uses X-rays to make an image of the breast, just like conventional film mammography. But instead of storing the picture on film, digital mammography sends the image to a computer.

In general, digital and film mammography are similar in how well they show cancer. But, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2005 showed that digital mammography found up to 28 percent more cancers than film mammography in women younger than 50 and in those with dense breasts.

Digital mammography first became available in the U.S. in 2000. Today, more than 60 percent of U.S. breast imaging centers offer digital mammography. It costs more than film mammography, however.

Tips for Your Next Mammogram

Both standard film mammography and digital mammography work well to help detect breast cancer. If digital mammography is not available in your area, you should still get your regular mammogram.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently issued new guidelines for breast cancer screening. It suggests that women ages 50 to 74 receive screening mammograms every two years. The American Cancer Society recommends that women ages 40 and older have mammograms every year for as long as they are in good health.

Here are some tips to help you get a high-quality mammogram in either digital or film format:

• Go to a facility that specializes in mammograms and performs many every day.
• If you're going to a facility for the first time, bring a list of the places and dates of your previous mammograms or other breast treatments you have had.
• Don't wear deodorant or antiperspirant on the day of your mammogram. They can show up as white spots on the X-rays.
• Wear a skirt or pants on the day of your mammogram so you only need to remove your top and bra.
• Tell your radiologist if you are breast-feeding or might be pregnant.