Digital Mammography: Advancements in Breast Imaging

The “digital full-field mammography system”, whose quality criteria correspond to the latest EU guidelines, optimizes breast cancer diagnostics. The new method for early detection of  breast cancer  has many advantages over previous methods.

More safety

“More certainty in the detection of life-threatening micro tumors and a significantly lower radiation exposure than with conventional devices are, among other things, the advantages of the new digital mammography device that we as the Hamburg reference center are now offering to patients,” says Dr. Toni Birtel, spokesman for the breast diagnostics department at the Schäferkampsallee X-ray Center in Hamburg.

Less pressure pain

Many women still do without  mammography as part of individual or statutory preventive care because they find this examination uncomfortable or even painful. Current scientific studies confirm that mammography is superior to any palpable findings and even to ultrasound equipment in the timely diagnosis of the smallest tumor stages.

Less radiation exposure, better evaluation

The new “Digi-Mammo” could put a stop to the potentially life-threatening mammography: It is extremely gentle and relatively painless. In the past, women with larger breasts in particular had to have several partial breast exposures. Due to its large detector plate, the new device does this with the classic “top” and “side” recording. In addition, due to the very good digital image quality, it is usually no longer necessary to take new or additional photos in order to be able to correctly recognize details that are important for survival. “As a result, radiation exposure can be significantly reduced compared to conventional mammography,” says Dr. Tony Birtel. For less  pressure pain also ensures a newly developed compression plate that adapts flexibly to the shape of the breast.

Faster finding

Overall, findings with digital mammography can be obtained not only more reliably but also more quickly. In many cases, this defuses the enormous psychological pressure that the uncertainty of the diagnosis can cause for the women. There is no waiting time for the film to be developed. Diagnosis is now made directly on the screen. “Like with a digital camera, we can assess the image immediately after taking it and enlarge image sections in a targeted manner. Changes that are difficult to recognize, such as microcalcifications, can be diagnosed more quickly and with greater certainty,” says Dr. Tony Birtel. An intelligent computer program (CAD) accompanies the doctor on his diagnostic tour: conspicuous areas are automatically marked in the image and “presented” to the doctor for assessment. “

plea for control

But even the most sophisticated technology, according to the Hamburg doctor, can never replace the experience of a specialist in breast cancer diagnostics, who carries out thousands of diagnoses directly on patients every year. “Of course we hope that this gentle digital mammography procedure will now also be used by women who were previously rather skeptical about this safest type of breast cancer diagnosis for physical or financial reasons.”