Mammography Services
Understanding Mammography Services
As a woman, you have a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer during your lifetime. Used in conjunction with monthly breast self-examination and an annual physical exam from your health care provider, mammography can help detect breast cancer in its early, most treatable stages - up to two years before it is large enough to be felt. That's why the American Cancer Society has published the following screening mammography guidelines for women with no history of breast disease:
- Age 35-40: Baseline mammogram
- Age 40 and over: Every year
3 Dimensional Digital Mammography
Baptist Health Corbin just implemented the latest technology in digital mammography, a 3-dimensional breast imaging with tomosynthesis. 3-D Digital Mammography creates new possibilities, it provides a clearer, more accurate view of the breast and allows physicians to more effectively pinpoint the size, shape and location of any abnormalities. Breast tomosynthesis uses high-powered computing to convert digital breast images into a stack of very thin layers or "slices", building what is essentially a "3-dimensional mammogram". During the tomosynthesis part of the exam, the x-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple breast images in just seconds. Very low x-ray energy is used so your exposure is about the same as that of a traditional mammogram. A computer then produces a 3-D image of your breast tissue for Radiologist review and interpretation.
What is 3-Dimensional Digital Mammography?
3 Dimensional Digital Mammography uses essentially the same processes as conventional mammography, but the system is equipped with a digital receptor and a computer instead of film cassette. With digital mammography an electronic image is taken and stored directly in a computer system.
What are the Advantages of 3-Dimensional Digital Mammography?
The advantages of 3-Dimensional Digital Mammography are:
- Improved cancer detection
- Reduced False Positives
- Better Visualization
- Less Patient Anxiety
What to Wear?
You will be taken into our private waiting room where changing rooms are available and provided a robe to wear during your examination.
- Wear a two-piece outfit, so you can stay dressed from the waist down during your exam.
- Don't use any powders or underarm deodorants, because they can interfere with your results. We will have toiletries available for your convenience.
Sterotactic Breast Biopsy
Millions of American women undergo screening mammography as part of their annual health checkups. Up to five percent of these mammogram's will be read as abnormal, but only ten percent of abnormal mammogram's will actually turn out to be malignant.
Sterotactic breast biopsy is a safe, relatively painless, non-deforming and cost-effective alternative to biopsy surgery for the patient with an abnormal mammogram.
During the procedure, you lie face down on a special table, and your breast is compressed. From below, a digital imaging system takes stereoscopic views of the lesion, instantaneously displaying them on a monitor. A computer calculates the precise location of the lesion. The breast is anesthetized, using local anesthesia, and several highly accurate core-needle biopsies are drawn for analysis.
Stereotactic breast biopsy offers significant advantages over conventional open surgical biopsy. Because it's minimally invasive, it's less painful. Recovery time is minimal, and there is no tissue loss and little or no scarring. It is also less costly by at least 25 percent.
The exam takes 30 minutes to perform. On the day of your exam, remember:
- You may eat a light breakfast.
- Wear a two-piece outfit, so you can stay dressed from the waist down during your exam.
- Don't use any powders or underarm deodorants, because they can interfere with the procedure.
- Do not take aspirin or anticoagulant medications two days before and two days after your stereotactic biopsy is performed.
Research in Mammography
The American Cancer Society ranks Breast cancer as the most common cancer found in US women today.
3 Dimensional Digital Mammography has been proven to be more accurate at detecting cancers in women under 50, women with dense breasts, and women who had not yet reached menopause or who were just approaching menopause.
With the use of 3-Dimensional Digital Mammography, Baptist Health Corbin continues to pursue the goal of providing, Quality Close to Home.
To schedule a your appointment for a 3-Dimensional Digital Mammogram call our scheduling department at 606-523-8602 or if you have any questions about Digital Mammography services, please contact Baptist Health Breast Care at 606-523-8504.