High-quality mammography is the most effective technology presently available for breast cancer screening. One of the most recent advances in x-ray mammography is digital mammography. Digital (computerized) mammography is similar to standard mammography in that x-rays are used to produce detailed images of the breast. Digital mammography uses essentially the same mammography system as conventional mammography, but the system is equipped with a digital receptor and a computer instead of a film cassette. Several studies have demonstrated that digital mammography is at least as accurate as standard mammography.

One of the most significant features of digital mammography is that it allows radiologists to manipulate images on very high resolution computer screens, eliminating shadows, zooming in on suspicious areas and making other adjustments to enhance image quality. Digital mammography is also remarkably fast, providing crystal clear electronic images in just a few seconds.

But the advantages of digital mammography don’t stop there. It has been proven to lower recall rates (the percentage of women needing further evaluation) and lower biopsy rates (the percentage of women needing a biopsy as a result of an abnormal mammogram).

Additional benefits include:

• Lower radiation doses
• Reduced time in the mammography suite
• Less likely to be lost (images stored electronically)
• Easy to transfer to other physicians via the Internet

There are several health care providers throughout the Lowcountry that provide digital mammography. They include:

• Georgetown Hospital:
  Women's Imaging Center at Georgetown Memorial Hospital
  
  To schedule a digital mammogram, call (843) 545-5600.
  

  

• Medical University of South Carolina:
  Hollings Cancer Center on the main campus of MUSC (Downtown Charleston)
  
  To schedule a digital mammogram, call (843) 792-1414.
  

  

• Roper Saint Francis:
  Farmfield Mammography Center (West Ashley)
  Mount Pleasant Urgent Care on Longpoint Road (Mount Pleasant)
  Breast Care Center @ Roper Hospital (Downtown Charleston)
  Breast Care Center @ Saint Francis Medical Plaza on the Hospital Campus (West Ashley)
  
  To schedule a digital mammogram, call (843) 402-5000.
  

  

• Trident Health System:
  Trident Medical Center (North Charleston)
  Summerville Medical Center (Summerville)
  
  To schedule a digital mammogram, call (843) 797-7000.