How is Digital Mammograms different from film mammograms?

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in the US second only to skin cancer.

Regarding the different types of mammograms (digital vs. film) overall diagnostic accuracy for breast cancer screening was similar but digital mammo was more accurate in women under 50 – more radiographically dense breasts

Benefits of Digital Mammograms over Film mammograms

  • Lower average radiation dose.  They use 25% less radiation than film mammograms because smaller areas of the breast are imaged in each view.
  • More accurate readings in patients under 50 and those with radiographically dense breasts.

Drawbacks of Digital Mammograms

Costs more