As photography has gone digital – creating clear, sharp images without using film – so has the latest tool in the early detection of breast cancer. St. Francis Medical Center now has a new digital mammography system that advances the fight against this pervasive disease, which will be diagnosed in nearly 213,000 American women this year.

The new system provides physicians with clear and precise all-digital images, rather than on X-ray film. In addition, digital mammography offers the largest field of view currently available, which helps capture images of patients with diverse shapes and sizes.

“This new digital technology will provide both highprecision accuracy and increased ease of use for our patients,” says Beverly Rauenzahn, director of radiology.

“Providing the best diagnostic equipment possible to patients is a vital step to good preventive health, and one we take very seriously.”

Among other advantages, a digital mammogram takes about half the time as X-ray film. The images offer a better view of the breast, especially near the skin line, chest wall and in women with diverse breast tissue types. They’re ready within seconds, so patients no longer have to wait for film to be developed to be sure the images are usable. And if another opinion is needed, images can be e-mailed to another physician almost instantly.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call 609-599-5163.