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Digital mammography, also known as high-resolution mammography, is an exam also used to screen for breast cancer indicated for women over 40 years old. This examination is done in the same way as conventional mammography, however it is more accurate and does not require compression for a long time, reducing the pain and discomfort experienced by the woman during the examination.
Digital mammography is a simple exam and does not require specific preparation, it is only recommended that the woman avoid the use of creams and deodorants before the exam to avoid interfering with the result.
How it is done
Digital mammography is a simple procedure and does not require many preparations, it is only recommended that the woman avoid using cream, talc or deodorant on the day of the exam to avoid interference with the results. In addition, you should schedule the exam after menstruation, which is when the breasts are less sensitive.
Thus, to perform digital mammography the woman must place the breast in the device that will make a slight pressure, which may cause some discomfort or pain, which is necessary for images to be captured inside the breast, which are registered on the computer and can be analyzed more accurately by the medical team.
Advantages of digital mammography
Both conventional mammography and digital mammography aim to obtain images of the interior of the breast to identify changes, requiring compression of the breast, which can be quite uncomfortable. Despite this, digital mammography has some advantages over conventional, the main ones being:
- Shorter compression time to obtain the image, causing less pain and discomfort;
- Ideal for women with very dense or large breasts;
- Shorter exposure time to radiation;
- It allows the use of contrast, making it possible to evaluate the breast blood vessels;
- It allows the identification of very small nodules, which favors the earlier diagnosis of breast cancer.
In addition, due to the fact that the images are stored on the computer, monitoring the patient is easier and the file can be shared with other doctors who also monitor the woman's health.
What is digital mammography for
Digital mammography, as well as conventional mammography, should only be performed after 35 years of age on women who have mothers or grandparents with breast cancer, and for all women over 40, at least once every 2 years or every year as a routine exam. Thus, digital mammography serves to:
- Identify benign breast lesions;
- To detect the existence of breast cancer;
- Assess the size and type of breast lumps.
A mammogram is not indicated before 35 years of age because the breasts are still very dense and firm and in addition to causing a lot of pain, the x-ray cannot satisfactorily penetrate the breast tissue, and cannot reliably show if there is a cyst or lump in the breast.
When there is a suspicion of a benign or malignant lump in the breast, the doctor should order an ultrasound that will be more comfortable and may also show when a lump is malignant and it is breast cancer.
The result of the mammogram must be evaluated by the doctor who ordered the exam in order to identify the correct diagnosis and initiate the appropriate treatment. See how to understand the result of the mammogram.