Cutting-edge detection

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LEWISTOWN - Digital mammography now is offered at Geisinger-Lewistown, which provides a variety of new advantages for both patients and doctors.

The new technology takes x-ray images of the breast in digital form rather than film. It uses a powerful computer to create high quality images of the breast, increasing the physicians' ability to detect cancer and other abnormalities, according to a press release by Geisinger Health System.

It also allows the radiologist to magnify specific areas of the image and adjust the contrast so abnormalities are more easily seen. The result is earlier diagnoses, with lesions often caught when still confined to the breast and before they have infiltrated lymph nodes or other parts of the body, the release states.

Dr. Anne Dunne, director of women's imaging at Geisinger Health System in Danville, said digital mammography has proven to be better for detecting lesions in women with dense breast tissue, which can be found in women at any age but often occur in younger women.

Digital mammography also is beneficial in detecting calcifications, Dunne said, which are small bits of calcium that precipitate out in the breast. These are looked for during mammograms, Dunne said, when looking for cancer. Some are benign and others are malignant, but it's important to analyze them during a mammogram, she said.

With digital mammography, calcifications can be seen with greater resolution, she added.

Another benefit to the new technology is permanent storage of information, Dunne said. With the old technology, mammogram information was put onto film. Digital storage means less chance of losing results, she said.

"With the digital, you always have your online storage of the mammogram," Dunne said.

Another advantage to digital mammography is the ability to get second opinions from doctors, Dunne said.

Multiple Geisinger sites with digital mammography are hooked up by computer, she said, which enables doctors at different locations to interact and discuss results of a particular mammogram.

"They can discuss the case over the phone," she said, adding that with the previous technology, hard copies of mammogram results and information would have to be mailed.

Also with digital mammography, images can be manipulated since they are displayed on a computer screen, Dunne said.

Images can be magnified, she said, and the contrast or penetration can be adjusted, if the film is too light or too dark.

With analog mammography, or the old technology, patients would have to be brought back more often for magnification or to improve an image, Dunne said. Digital mammography doesn't always prevent the patient from coming back, she explained, it just lessens the chances.

Another benefit is digital computer-aided detection, Dunne said. This is built-in software on computer workstations that acts as an image checker. It points out various things on mammograms to direct radiologists, she said.

Digital mammography started at the Lewistown location on Dec. 17, 2009, Dunne said. Currently, the site does screening mammograms, which do not require a physician. Later, diagnostic mammograms will be done, she said, which will require a physician on site.

Appointments can be made at the Lewistown location Monday through Friday, Dunne said, and sometimes up to 30 cases are seen a day. Usually patients will get appointments within one week, she added, and readings often come back after 24 to 48 hours.

Although the technology is new, the process for getting a mammogram has not really changed. The breast still needs to be positioned and carefully compressed to take the image, according to the release. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 242-4200 or visit www.geisinger.org.