When it’s time for your next mammogram at East Cooper Regional Medical Center’s Women’s Diagnostic Center, you’ll have access to digital mammography – technology that could shorten your exam and provide important health benefits for you.  

Both traditional film and digital mammography are good at finding breast cancer in its earliest stages, when treatment is usually most effective.  However, digital mammograms offer better images than film for women younger than 50 and those with very dense breasts, a National Cancer Institute study suggests.  Digital mammograms also use less radiation.  

Digital images are taken electronically and stored on a computer, whereas film images are captured on film.  It’s like the difference between a digital and a film camera.  Since there’s no film to develop, you may notice shorter wait times while the technologist verifies that the images on the screen are satisfactory.  Imaging times may also be shorter, since digital pictures generally take less than five minutes compared to 10 to 15 minutes for film.  

What’s more, digital images also have better contrast resolution, and physicians can manipulate them to view different areas of the breast.  Using special software, doctors can magnify any areas of concern.  

To schedule your mammogram, call (843) 884-7031.