While results of the following study should come as no surprise, it is still reassuring to hear that digital mammography is better at detecting life-threatening tumors.
While results of the following study should come as no surprise, it is still reassuring to hear that digital mammography is better at detecting life-threatening tumors.A Dutch research study published online Oct. 2 in the journal Radiology confirmed that digital mammography was better than the older film mammography at detecting breast cancers.
The study comparing the two methods was Researchers from the National Expert and Training Centre for Breast Cancer Screening and other institutions that evaluated a total of about 1.2 million screening mammograms. More than 87 percent were film and nearly 13 percent were digital.
Breast cancer was found in more than 6,400 women during the study period. Cancers were detected at higher rates with digital than with film.
Digital found more cancers known as high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which can progress more rapidly to invasive cancer than low-grade DCIS. Low-grade DCIS typically takes more than three decades to progress, although all grades can progress and become invasive.
High-grade DCIS was detected 58.5 percent of the time with digital, but only 50.5 percent of the time with film.
Digital did not result in a disproportionate increase in the detection of low-grade lesions, which may never trouble a woman in her lifetime.
Both film and digital mammograms use X-rays to take an image of the breast. In film mammograms, the image is recorded on film. Digital mammograms store the image on a computer. Doctors can then enhance them on a computer screen and adjust the size, brightness or contrast to focus on certain areas.
Previous research in the United States has found that digital is better than film for certain groups, including women under age 50 with dense breasts.
