From Albert Salomon’s 1913 x-ray studies to digital breast tomosynthesis and AI-assisted screening, here’s how mammography evolved into today’s standard for early breast cancer detection.
Mammography uses low-dose x-rays to find breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable. Before x-rays, physicians could only detect breast tumors large enough to feel during a physical exam. A century of imaging innovation changed that.
Key milestones
- 1895: Wilhelm Röntgen discovers the x-ray, laying the foundation for medical imaging.
- 1913: German surgeon Albert Salomon links x-ray findings to breast cancer pathology, establishing the basis for mammography.
- 2000: The FDA approves the first digital mammography system.
- 2011: The FDA approves digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography), now used in most U.S. breast imaging facilities.
From x-ray specimens to the modern mammogram
18 years after the discovery of the x-ray, German surgeon Albert Salomon studied radiographs of 3,000 mastectomy specimens and identified microcalcifications tied to cancerous tissue, establishing the pathological basis for breast imaging. In 1949, Uruguayan radiologist Raul Leborgne introduced breast compression, a technique still central to today’s exam. Refinements to fine-grain imaging screens followed in the late 1950s, and dedicated mammography units began reaching clinics by the mid-1960s, according to a published history of mammography in Radiologia Brasileira.
The shift to digital and 3D imaging
Digital imaging transformed mammography’s accuracy and workflow. The FDA approved the first digital mammography system in 2000, followed in 2011 by digital breast tomosynthesis — 3D mammography that captures the breast layer-by-layer instead of as a single flat image. Adoption has grown quickly since: tomosynthesis is now used in more than 80% of U.S. breast imaging facilities, according to a 2022 clinical commentary published by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), helping radiologists find more invasive cancers while reducing false-positive callbacks.
What’s next for breast imaging
Breast density remains a diagnostic challenge — dense tissue can hide small cancers on a standard mammogram. Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is emerging as a leading supplemental option: a 2025 multicenter trial published in Radiology found that adding MBI to tomosynthesis screening increased detection of invasive cancers in women with dense breasts. As breast imaging technology advances, so does the operational complexity of managing it: more modalities, more images, and more data to track and report accurately and on time.
Turning imaging history into operational performance
A century of imaging innovation means little without the workflow to support it. RamSoft® mammography tracking software, Stana™, helps mammography centers manage compliance documentation, screening recalls, and reporting consistency at scale. Both RamSoft radiology software platforms, PowerServer® and OmegaAI® orchestrate AI reporting, scheduling, and workflow across the full imaging cycle, from intake to interpretation. The result: faster turnaround times, higher throughput, and less administrative burden for imaging teams.
Learn how RamSoft cloud PACS and AI orchestration solutions support your mammography workflow. Connect with our team.
Frequently asked questions
When were mammograms invented?
Mammography traces back to Wilhelm Röntgen’s 1895 discovery of the x-ray. The first breast-specific study followed in 1913, when German surgeon Albert Salomon linked x-ray findings on mastectomy specimens to cancer pathology.
When was digital mammography introduced?
The FDA approved the first digital mammography system in 2000, replacing film-based screening with electronic image detectors.
When was 3D mammography (tomosynthesis) approved?
The FDA approved digital breast tomosynthesis in 2011. It’s now used in more than 80% of U.S. breast imaging facilities, per RSNA-published research.
Who invented the mammogram?
Albert Salomon performed the first mammography study in 1913, x-raying 3,000 mastectomy specimens to correlate imaging findings with cancer pathology. Raul Leborgne’s 1949 compression technique and later fine-grain screening methods shaped the modern clinical exam.