Patient Information
Digital Mammography
Conventional mammography uses X-rays to look for tumors or suspicious areas in the breasts. Digital mammography also uses X-rays, but the data is collected on computer instead of on a piece of film. This means that the image can be computer-enhanced, or areas can be magnified. Eventually, a computer could in certain appropriate situations, screen digital mammograms, theoretically detecting suspicious areas that human error might miss.
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| (Top) Breast images using conventional mammography. (Bottom) Digital mammography images of the same woman. Images courtesy of Dr. Laurie Fajardo, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions |