Why Digital Mammography
Why Cogdell Memorial Hospital?
 Cogdell Memorial Hospital delivers the
highest quality patient care available
– Dedicated staff
– Commitment to patient care and comfort
– Comfortable, easily accessible facility
– State-of-the-art technology, including digital
mammography
What is Digital Mammography?
What is Digital Mammography?
Digital mammography uses traditional X-ray
generators and tubes to produce an X-ray beam.
This X-ray beam is converted into
digital information which can be
stored electronically, transmitted,
displayed, analyzed and
manipulated in a number of ways.
Digital Mammography
X-ray source
Acquisition computer
Digital detector
Softcopy display
Why Digital Mammography?
 Improved Breast Cancer Detection
– ACRIN DMIST Study Results
• Study funded by National Cancer Institute
• DMIST enrolled nearly 49,500 participants at 33 centers nationwide and in
Canada
– Study results show that digital mammography is more
beneficial for women:
• under age 50 (no matter what level of breast tissue density they had)
• of any age with heterogeneously (very dense) or extremely dense breasts
• pre- or peri-menopausal women of any age (defined as women who had a
last menstrual period within 12 months of their mammograms)
ACRIN – American College of Radiology Imaging Network
DMIST – Digital Mammography Imaging Screening Trial
Why Digital Mammography?
 Lower Patient Dose
– Digital mammography delivers 30%-40% lower dose compared to
screen-film and CR mammography
 Enhanced Patient Care
– Elimination of need for technologists to leave exam room to
process films provides uninterrupted patient contact
– Needle localizations can be completed in an average
of 12 minutes
 Elimination of Lost Films
– Redundant storage of digital exams eliminates possibility
of lost images
 Reduced Recalls
– Due to clearer images and improved reviewing tools
Softcopy Review Advantages
 Digital Images Are Reviewed on High
Resolution Monitors, For Optimal Viewing
Conditions
 Softcopy Review Allows the Radiologist To:
– Zoom in and magnify areas of interest
– Adjust contrast and brightness for better
visualization of fine details
– Display digital images from prior studies
– Arrange images on screen for best
comparison positioning
– Use measuring tools
– Make and store annotations
Digital Magnification
Why Cogdell Radiology?
We chose the digital mammography
system that delivers:
– Best image quality in the industry
– Optimal resolution and field of view
– Lower patient dose with no
compromise in image quality
– Emphasis on patient comfort
Image is Everything………..
especially in mammography
 Mammography requires images of the highest resolution and
contrast for the detection of cancer at the earliest stages
 Our digital mammography system provides the latest
technological advances available to ensure superb image quality
– Direct capture digital detector completely eliminates the imagedegrading effects of light diffusion, for preservation of image
sharpness
– Exclusive High Transmission Cellular Grid reduces radiation
scatter in two directions and enables 70% - 80% transmission
of primary beam, compared to conventional grids that
provide only 50% transmission
Focus on Patient Comfort
 Tilting paddles automatically
conforms to the natural contours
of the breast, for more uniform
and comfortable compression
 Slim tubehead and recessed face
shield for easier positioning
MammoPad® Breast Cushion…….
for a softer, warmer mammogram
Minimizes discomfort, one of the most
often reported barriers to compliance
Patient Satisfaction

Softness reduces discomfort
from compression

Warms the compression
surfaces for skin comfort

Reduces discomfort by 50%
in 3 out of 4 women*

Grip like effect aids in patient
positioning
*Markle study. Comfort and compression.
SBI 2001, The Breast Journal 2004.
Encourage Someone
You Love To Have Her
Annual Mammogram.