Benefits and Risks- Digital Mammography

Benefits

• By using computers to collect the images digitally, digital mammography cuts exam time in half, requires less development time leading to faster results, and allows your medical images to be stored safely and easily sent to your doctor.
• Digital mammography reduces the amount of radiation needed to create accurate images.
• Digital mammography produces better images and has a higher sensitivity to abnormalities, allowing for a more precise diagnosis.

Risks

• There are always some risks associated with any exposure to radiation. However, the benefits of accurate, low dose mammography far outweigh the possible risks.
• Occasionally the findings from a digital mammogram can be inconclusive which would require more testing.
• Women should always inform SMIL if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.