Mammography continues to be one of the best methods of discovering breast cancer, and standard mammograms are usually reliable and accurate. For many women, however, a digital mammogram is a better diagnostic tool than a film mammogram. In a recent national study* it was shown that a digital mammogram is more accurate in detecting early breast cancer for women under the age of 50, women with dense breasts and premenopausal or perimenopausal women.

There are many more patient benefits as well. Digital mammograms are faster, provide more options for evaluating suspicious findings, can be magnified and enhanced for a more thorough evaluation, and significantly reduces the need for additional mammograms.

The UAMS/ACRC Breast Center is entirely digital. But we take our fight against breast cancer one step further. We are the first facility in Central Arkansas to have an MRI unit dedicated solely to breast exams.

To get an appointment with the leader in digital technology, call 526-6100 or toll free 1-877-629-2196.

The ACRC Breast Center converted from the use of film mammography to digital four years ago. Appointments for digital mammograms can be scheduled by calling (501) 526-6100.

"With digital mammograms, there are never bad or incomplete images. The images are obtained electronically and can be altered in numerous ways, even after the patient has left the breast imaging clinic. The electronically obtained images can be magnified or made darker or lighter, and the contrast can be increased or decreased to allow for more accurate readings," said Robert L. Fincher, M.D., director of breast imaging and medical director of the Arkansas Cancer Research Center (ACRC) Breast Center at UAMS. "With film, the image cannot be altered. If the initial film image is not of diagnostic quality, it has to be repeated. This exposes the patient to additional radiation." 

The NCI study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, included statistics on 42,760 women located at 33 sites across the United States and Canada. Each woman in the study underwent both digital and film mammography to determine if the digital procedure was more accurate in detecting breast cancer than film screen technique.

The status of participants was based on the result of breast biopsies done within 15 months and follow-up mammograms done at least 10 months after entering the study.

The landmark results showed that the accuracy of digital mammography was significantly greater than film mammography in detecting breast cancer for women who are younger than 50, have dense breasts, are premenopausal or had her last menstrual period within 12 months of the test.

The American Cancer Society recommends that all women receive annual mammograms beginning at age 40. When detected in its early stages, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients is 95 percent. After the disease spreads to the lymph nodes, the five-year survival rate drops to 60 percent.

Learn more at the Breast Center website.