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Fort Pierce 772.466.5050
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One of the more advanced pieces of equipment on site at Windsor Imaging's Fort Pierce location is their new Digital Mammography machine. Digital Mammography offers many advantages over standard analog, or film, mammography. With Digital Mammography, the technologist can manipulate the image contrast, brightness and magnification levels to better see any abnormalities at that very moment.

Windsor Imaging went the extra mile and purchased a computer-aided detection device, or CAD, which red flags any areas that require additional scrutiny by the radiologist

Another crucial point in favor of Digital Mammography is that it uses less radiation than film mammography and has been determined to be more beneficial for women 50 or younger, for women with dense breasts, or for women who have to have frequent tests. Less radiation means safer testing.

The following web sites give you more information about Digital Mammogram:

• Digital vs. Film Mammography
• Stanford Cancer Center

Know the facts about MAMMOGRAPHY it could save your life

• Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55.
• Every two minutes a women is diagnosed with Breast cancer.
• 40% of the female population has dense breasts.
• Self-examination detects a large percentage of breast cancer followed by mammograms.
• Breast Cancer deaths have been on the decline since 1990; this decrease is believed to be the result of Earlier detection and superior technology.
• Yearly mammograms are covered by most medical insurance plans.
• Caffeine can make your breast more sensitive. Stay off caffeine for one week before and take an over the counter pain reliever one hour before your mammogram.

Windsor Imaging is dedicated to providing the best possible Healthcare to women in our area. Our new Digital Hologic selenia is a full field digital mammogram. Our new mammogram suite offers privacy our patients deserve. Our experienced technologist has over ten years experience in the mammography field. Our radiologist is a specialist, Board Certified in the mammography field.

Why are Annual Exams so Important?

Getting regular screening tests is the best way for women to lower their risk of dying from breast cancer. Screening tests can find breast cancer early, when it's most treatable.

Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations for Women at Average Risk

Mammography is the most effective breast cancer screening tool we have today. However, its benefits for women vary by age.

The table below shows the screening recommendations for women at average risk of breast cancer from several major health organizations.

Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations for Women at Average Risk
	Susan G. Komen for the Cure®	American Cancer Society	National Cancer Institute	U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Mammography	Every year beginning at age 40.	Every year beginning at age 40.	Every 1-2 years beginning at age 40.	Every 2 years ages 50-74.
Clinical Breast Exam	At least every 3 years ages 20-39.	At least every 3 years ages 20-39.	No specific recommendation.	Not enough evidence to recommend for or against.
	Every year beginning at age 40.	Every year beginning at age 40.

Note: Women at higher risk may need to get screened earlier and more frequently than recommended here. Find more on screening recommendations for women at higher risk of breast cancer.

Mammography for women ages 40-49

Mammography in women ages 40 to 49 saves lives, and in fact, a randomized test as reported by the Komen Organization found that women 40 to 49 who had regular mammograms had a 15 percent lower risk of dying from breast cancer.

Why are there differences in screening recommendations for women ages 40 to 49?

Most major organizations, including Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute, feel that the modest survival benefits of mammography in women ages 40 to 49 outweigh the risks of false positive results. All recommend regular mammograms for women aged 40 to 49.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that routine mammography screening begin at age 50. The Task Force encourages women ages 40 to 49 to discuss the pros and cons of mammography screening with their health care providers. Then, together make a decision on when to start mammography. Likewise, the American College of Physicians recommends that women ages 40 to 49 and their providers together make decisions about mammography. Decisions should be guided by a woman's breast cancer risk profile as well as her own preferences based on the potential benefits and risks of screening mammography.

Mammography for women ages 50-69

For women ages 50 to 69, the life-saving benefits of mammography are clear. All women ages 50 to 69 should have regular mammograms (Susan G. Komen Organization recommends every year). According to the Komen website, a 2009 study that combined the data from seven randomized trials found that women aged 50 and older who had regular mammography had a 23 percent lower risk of dying from breast cancer than their peers who did not.

Mammography for women ages 70 and older

Most major health organizations, including Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, recommend that healthy women ages 70 and older continue to get regular mammograms. Breast cancer risk increases with age, and mammography does not appear to be less effective for women 70 and older.

Some women ages 70 and older stop routine screening due to poor health. Women who have a serious health problem may not benefit enough from having breast cancer found early to justify screening. However, women who are in good health and would benefit from treatment (if breast cancer were found) should continue to get mammograms. If there is any question about whether you should continue getting screened, talk to your health care provider.

Digital VS. Film Mammography

Film Analog

Both digital and film mammography uses X-ray to produce an image of the breast. Both types of mammograms require compression. Film mammography has been used for over 35 years. The images are created directly on a film. Prior studies have suggested that approximately 10-20% of breast cancers that were detected by breast self-examination or physical examination are visible on film mammography. Once a film mammogram is obtained it cannot be significantly enhanced, if the fi, is under exposed, the contrast is lost and cannot be regained. If the film is lost or misplaced, images cannot be reconstructed. Currently only 8% of breast imaging units provide digital mammography.

Digital

Digital takes an electronic image of the breast and stores it directly in a computer. Digital images with their higher resolutions allow radiologists to see cancer earlier than possible with analog systems. Digital mammography uses Less Radiation than film mammography. Digital mammography is significantly better in screening women under 50 years of age, or any age women with dense breasts, or pre or post menopausal women of any age.

Other advantages over film include improved ease of image access, transmission, retrieval and storage. Digital helps the radiologists by enabling them to use image processing that allows the degree of contrast to be manipulated; thus they are able to increase contrast in dense areas and control the focus are. This is similar to using a digital camera that allows manipulation to get the best picture possible.

The Extra Step

In a final effort to produce error-free diagnosis, Windsor imaging invested in and utilizes a sophisticated software program called "CAD" (computer-aided detection) that acts as a "second pair of eyes," it scrutinizes suspicious areas and enhances them and thereby assists the radiologist in detecting breast cancer.