Computer-aided detection (CAD) is another way to look at a mammogram image. CAD helps find and magnify areas of concern on your mammogram.
You don't have to prepare for the CAD.
Mammogram films are loaded into a special processing unit that will digitalize (computerize) the mammogram images. Using special software, CAD "sees" bright spots that suggest small areas of calcium deposits in the breast or lymph tissue, called microcalcifications.
Microcalcifications, or calcium deposits, can be found in breast tissue and occur more often as we get older. While these are often not harmful (benign), they may show areas of more quickly dividing cells. This can be an indirect sign of breast cancer. CAD can identify these areas and any abnormalities that are found are then highlighted or marked on the digitized images.
The radiologist can compare the findings on the original films to the findings of the CAD. The radiologist can decide if the areas marked by CAD are abnormalities that need to be followed up or not.
