UNC Hospitals Offers Digital Mammograms

(09/07/07 - CHAPEL HILL) (WTVD) -- UNC Hospitals is officially all digital when it comes to mammograms. Just this week, the health care system eliminated film screen mammography for high tech digital imaging.

When you think of digital pictures, you probably don't think of mammograms, but that is exactly what you will find beginning this week at UNC Hospitals.

UNC's Chief of Breast Imaging, Dr. Cherie Kuzmiak explains, "You still have the x-rays you still have the compression paddle but the way that the image is captured how its processed and displayed is different."

Without the need to process film, digital mammography takes less time and radiation and provides instant images. It also makes it easier for doctors like Dr. Kuzmiak to detect breast cancer early.

"It is more accurate especially in women who have dense breast meaning they have more breast tissue than fat," Kuzmiak adds, "The digital was more accurate it detected about 28% more cancers."

That was the case for Helen Moore. She came to Chapel Hill from Asheville for a second opinion and a digital mammogram after her traditional one on film missed a problem.

Helen explains, "Either the film was not as clear or they didn't position me in a way that it would pick it up. The digital confirmed what the problem was."

Finding problems like Helen's is easier for Dr. Kuzmiak with digital imaging. "You can change the contrast so it allows the interpreter the radiologist to be able to detect lesions earlier," he says.

And detecting breast cancer early can make all the difference in recovery  something Helen Moore is thankful for.

While digital mammography is growing, approximately 22% of hospitals in the U.S. are digital. Whether it's film or digital, mammograms are the number one key in detecting breast cancers early.

Click here for more information about digital mammograms at UNC Hospitals.

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