Digital Mammography

BryanLGH is the only Lincoln hospital to provide digital mammography at four convenient locations:

BryanLGH East, 1600 N. 48th St.
BryanLGH West, 2300 S. 16th St.
Pine Lake Medical Plaza, 3901 Pine Lake Road
BryanLGH Mammography Center, 7401 O St.

Call our Scheduling Center: 402-481-5121

What is Digital Mammography?

Digital mammography uses computers and specially designed digital detectors to produce an image that can be displayed on a high-resolution computer monitor. It is transmitted and stored just like a computer file.

Having a digital mammogram is very much like having a conventional screen-film mammogram. Both film-based and digital mammography use compression and x-rays to create clear images of the inside of the breast. During all mammography exams, the technologist positions the patient to get pictures of the breast from various angles and compresses the breast to obtain the best image quality. At BryanLGH, all mammograms are done by female staff in private, comfortable surroundings. Digital mammography offers many benefits:

Faster exam time. The exam takes about 15-20 minutes; conventional mammography can take twice as long. Digital mammography also reduces the need to retake the images because of over or under exposure.
Better images. The brightness, contrast and magnification of each exam can be changed to enhance detail and the diagnostic information obtained. Digital mammography also reduces radiation scatter for higher contrast images, especially important for those with dense breast tissue.
Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD). CAD "reads” the mammogram in addition to a radiologist. Using the computer in addition to a physician improves detection of breast lesions, particularly microcalcifications.

Who Should Have a Mammogram?

Women age 40 and older should have mammograms every year as long as they are in good health. In addition to annual screening for women 40 and older, women with certain risk factors should discuss an appropriate screening program with their physician.

Research has shown that annual mammograms lead to early detection of breast cancers, when they are most curable and breast-conservation therapies are available. While mammography is the best screening tool for breast cancer available today, mammograms do not detect all breast cancers. Also note that a small portion of mammograms indicate cancer is present when it is not (this is called a false-positive result).

Breast Localization (Pre-Surgical)

Pre-surgical breast localizations also can be done using the mammography equipment. This procedure involves inserting a small wire into a breast abnormality that was previously identified on a mammogram. The wire is placed by a skilled radiologist who will use mammography localization equipment and images to guide the wire to the proper place within the breast. This is followed by a surgical procedure to remove the sample of breast tissue. The surgeon uses the previously placed wire for a road map to the tissue that needs to be sampled. The removed tissue is then sent to a pathologist for examination.

Stereotactic (X-ray Guided) Breast Biopsy

Mammography is an excellent way to detect breast abnormalities, but in many cases it is not possible to tell from the imaging studies alone whether a growth is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). To make this determination it is necessary to obtain a tissue sample for microscopic examination. As an alternative to open surgical biopsy, which removes a larger specimen, a hollow needle may be passed through the skin into the suspicious lesion with the help of special breast X-rays. The sample of breast tissue obtained in this way can show whether the lesion is malignant or benign – and the procedure is much less invasive than the surgical approach. A special computerized mammography machine uses intersecting coordinates to pinpoint the area of tissue change. This method is called stereotactic biopsy or X-ray-guided biopsy. A pathologist examines the removed specimen and makes a final diagnosis so that treatment planning can begin.

A stereotactic breast biopsy is most helpful when mammography shows a mass, a cluster of microcalcifications (tiny calcium deposits that are closely grouped together), or an area of abnormal tissue change but no lump can be felt on careful breast examination.

An X-ray-guided biopsy often is done when:

A woman has a mammogram showing a suspicious solid mass that cannot be felt on breast examination
A woman has a mammogram showing a suspicious cluster of small calcium deposits (microcalcifications)
The structure of the breast tissue is distorted
A new mass or area of calcium deposits is present at a previous surgery site
The patient or physician strongly prefers a non-surgical method of assessment

BryanLGH Medical Center

Radiology