LiveWorld Transcripts

Healthology presents

Dr. Rebecca Tisdal
Digital Mammography

October 12, 2000

Dr. Rebecca Tisdal, expert in one of the most exciting new methods of diagnosing breast cancer, chats about digital mammography, which is changing the way we diagnose this disease.

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Healthology: Welcome to our chat, and thanks for joining us! In just a few moments we'll begin our conversation with Dr. Rebecca Tisdal, expert in one of the most exciting new methods of diagnosing breast cancer. It's called digital mammography, and it's changing the way we diagnose this disease. Feel free to check out the video to the left of this chat area before we start or as we're chatting. It will give you an introduction to our guest and her work, and you'll get a close look at the most exciting new development in breast cancer diagnosis in the last 30 years. Also, if you click on the herSource.com logo here on this screen, you'll find our full Webcast and chat series on breast cancer diagnosis. Feel free to send in your questions now for Dr. Tisdal!

Dr. Rebecca Tisdal: I'm so excited about digital mammography! I feel like it's been a tremendous step forward, and I believe it has the potential to really save lives. I'm Dr. Tisdal, from Oklahoma City, at the Women's Center. I'm looking forward to answering your questions about digital mammography!

Jan: Is digital mammography better than regular mammography? Should I be asking for it?

Dr. Rebecca Tisdal: Digital mammography uses many of the same techniques as regular mammography. The main advantage is the ability to manipulate the image on the computer screen, which allows us to better visualize areas that may not be well seen on traditional film screen mammography. To the patient, digital mammography is a faster examination. You still have to have compression, but it doesn't last as long. The image is then networked immediately to a viewing station, where it can be checked for positioning, and abnormalities. So from the patient point of view, it's much faster.

Lydia: Are there any studies that show improved sensitivity or specificity as compared to regular mammography?

Dr. Rebecca Tisdal: I can speak from experience. In my experience, with digital mammography at our center, I have found masses in various dense breasts to be much more obvious using digital mammography as opposed to traditional film screen techniques. The dense breasts have traditionally been the hardest type of breast tissue to find cancer in, early. So I believe that this will help us discover breast cancer earlier in this group.

Tur: Is mammography an invasive procedure? How is it done?

Dr. Rebecca Tisdal: No, mammography is not invasive. The technologist takes the patient's breast and places it on the detector. Then the breast is compressed (and relaxation is key). Then the image is taken, and the image is made. But there are no needles, no pain, just some firm compression. Two views are usually obtained of each breast.

Lydia: What is the turnaround time for results with digital versus regular mammo?

Dr. Rebecca Tisdal: From the time a woman's mammogram is taken, until the time that the films have come out of the processor, using traditional technique, may be around ten minutes. Then the films are checked to see if the positioning is correct, or if there's been any motion. With digital mammography, the images appear on the screen within ten seconds, so the technologist can determine if any additional imaging needs to be done at that time, and the patient can be relieved. At our center, we usually try to view the images while the patient is still present in the office. And often, are able to give further results before she leaves.

Joan: Do I have to get tested less frequently with this machine?

Dr. Rebecca Tisdal: The recommendation is for every woman to have a baseline mammogram between the ages of 35 and 40. That's the first mammogram. Then, she should have a mammogram every year, from the age of 40 and above. It is important to compare the current images with previous years. That's how we detect cancer when it's still very small.

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