Saint John’s new Imaging Center also offers full-field digital mammography, one of the most recent advantages in mammography. Digital (computerized) mammography is similar to standard mammography in that X-rays are used to produce detailed images of the breast.

Digital mammography uses essentially the same mammography system as conventional mammography, but it is equipped with a digital receptor and a computer instead of a film cassette.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved full-field digital mammography system screens for, and diagnoses of, breast cancer. Digital spot-view mammography allows faster and more accurate stereotactic biopsy. This results in shorter examination times and significantly improved patient comfort and convenience since the time the patient must remain still is much shorter.

With digital spot-view mammography, images are acquired digitally and displayed immediately on the system monitor. The FDA also has approved spot-view digital systems for use in guiding breast biopsy. Traditional stereotactic biopsy requires a mammogram film to be exposed, developed and then reviewed, greatly increasing the time before the breast biopsy can be completed.