Two Selenia Systems Do the Work of Four Screen-Film Systems

"The resolution and improved visualization that digital mammography provides is good for women with all densities of breast tissue," Dr. Detweiler notes. "In my mind this technology is a significant upgrade over screen-film mammography."

"When patients ask me which technology is more effective, I tell them that as a radiologist I can see what the difference is, and I'm not going to tell them to take a step back and have another type of mammogram. It doesn't make sense. The main message is for women to take screening mammography seriously whether screen-film or digital, but if given a choice, digital mammography is the way to go."

Take screening mammography seriously whether screen-film or digital, but if given a choice, digital mammography is the way to go

Raleigh Radiology replaced four screen-film systems with two Selenia digital mammography systems. Now the practice screens the same number of patients with fewer machines, while eliminating the need for duplicate scanning on questionable films. "There's virtually zero callback of patients for certain issues," says Dr. Detweiler. "Selenia digital mammography has virtually eliminated the need to re-scan to compensate for issues that sometimes make it difficult to interpret images, such as artifacts or inadequate exposure."

"We see about 80 patients a day in our digital office, and we're very pleased that we can screen the same patient volume with fewer pieces of equipment," he adds. The practice has another office that is planning a conversion to digital screening in the autumn of 2006. "We thought digital was the right direction from the beginning, and we now know, conclusively, that we'll continue on that road. Over time we hope to convert all of our other sites to digital," he affirms.