in a method and apparatus to generate a mammographic image , the apparatus has a radiation source , a digital radiation detector , and support plate and a compression plate between which the breast is compressed during image acquisition . a first image data set depicting the breast is acquired , with a first degree of compression of the breast . a second degree of compression of the breast is set and a second image data set depicting the breast is acquired . the first and second image data sets are linked for the generation of the diagnostic image .