Digital Mammography
Mammograms are one of the most important tools clinicians have to help them evaluate the breast. They are also a critical tool to follow women who've had breast cancer. Although mammograms do not prevent breast cancer, they can save lives by finding breast cancer as early as possible.
What is a digital mammogram?
A mammogram is a special type of x-ray that is used to examine breast tissue and help with the diagnosis of breast cancer and other breast conditions.
In digital mammography, x-ray beams are captured on specially designed digital detectors. The digital detector converts the x-ray beams into electronic signals, which are then sent to a computer and our board-certified radiologists can review the digital mammogram on a high-resolution computer monitor.
Studies have shown digital mammography to be significantly more accurate than screen-film mammography in women with dense breast tissue and women who are premenopausal or perimenopausal.
Harvard Vanguard and the other Atrius Health affiliated medical groups (Dedham Medical, Granite Medical, Southboro Medical Group, and South Shore Medical Center) currently offer three convenient locations for digital mammography services - Harvard Vanguard's Kenmore, Somerville practices and the Atrius Health Imaging Center in Weymouth. Chelmsford currently offers analog mammography and will be offering digital mammography in early 2012.
Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about digital mammography.
