Women wanting the highest quality images from their mammograms can now get them at The Breast Center in Carbondale, Herrin and Benton.

Digital mammography is the latest technology in the fight against breast cancer.This front line technology uses a powerful computer to create superior, high quality images of the breast, thus increasing the physician’s ability to detect cancer and other abnormalities.

“The improved clarity in the digital images is amazing and has shown better cancer detection in women with dense breasts,” said Mary Rosenow, MD, breast surgeon at The Breast Center. “I recommend digital mammography to all my patients, especially those with dense breasts.”

Recent studies have proven digital mammography to be better for detecting lesions in the breast, especially for women with dense breast tissue, women who are under 50, and both pre-menopausal and perimenopausal women.

Why? Digital mammography is clearer than traditional film and it allows the radiologist to magnify specific areas of the image and adjust the contrast so abnormalities are easier to see. This results in earlier diagnoses and lesions are often caught when they are still confined to the breast and not spreading to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. Earlier detection means higher success rates in treating cancer.

It also means fewer “false positives,” which may cause a woman anxiety as she waits for further tests or a biopsy to determine if a suspicious area is, in fact, a cancer There are many other practical advantages to digital mammography, said Jennifer Badiu, administrative director of SIH Cancer Institute. First off, it takes only 20 minutes to perform a digital scan, less than half the time of a traditional film study.

“Because there is no waiting for film to be developed, it can significantly reduce the time patients spend in The Breast Center,” Badiu added. This will also reduce the need for repeat exams due to underexposure or overexposure of the film.

Though the technology is all new, the process for getting a mammogram has not really changed. The breast still needs to be positioned and carefully compressed to take the image. Digital mammography is a powerful addition to the already advanced technologies at The Breast Center.

Both use the R2 ImageChecker to further examine each breast image. The ImageChecker is a computer aided diagnostic tool that acts as a “spellchecker.” It double checks each image for any suspicious areas and identifies them so the radiologist can review further. The R2 system has been in use at both centers since 2003.

The center also use the AMICAS digital image archiving system, a networked system to accurately store and retrieve digital images. With this system, radiologists at multiple locations may view and interpret images simultaneously.

For more information or to schedule a mammogram, call:

• The Breast Center-Carbondale: 800-360-6902



• The Breast Center-Herrin: 618-942-2171ext. 35398



• The Breast Center-Benton: 888-508-3192