The adverse implications of the transition from film to digital mammography for performing surveillance in patients with a history of breast cancer or significant risk factors for the disease

Abstract

Aim: The transition from screen-film to digital mammography at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre was investigated, considering the impact on patient management and resource utilization. Methods: A retrospective comparison of the imaging outcomes of the last year of screen-film and the first year of digital mammography was performed. The study group of 692 patients, all with a history or a significant risk factor of breast cancer, underwent a surveillance mammogram in both periods, enabling serial comparison of imaging outcomes on the same patient. Results: Overall 92 patients required a total of 125 further investigations after their film mammogram due to a mammographic abnormality while 130 und..