Digital mammography proves effective

A new trial will compare digital mammography with the standard technique to confirm if it can detect breast cancer earlier and with more accuracy. Standard film mammography has been around for nearly 40 years now, and radiographers are familiar with the scope and limitations of the technology.

Digital mammography might be able to detect cancers in women with dense breast tissue, because it offers higher contrast. The digital method may also reduce the call-back rate by giving a clearer result for women with suspicious lesions.

But before switching women to the digital method, a large scale trial comparing the two methods is essential. Fifty thousand women will receive both a digital and a standard mammogram and will be followed for several years to assess the accuracy of the two methods in predicting breast cancer.