Reid Health Breast Center adds 3-D breast diagnostic technology

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RICHMOND, Ind. – When Reid Health opened at 1100 Reid Parkway in 2007, the Breast Center included the “gold standard” digital, two-dimensional technology.

Though the technology is still considered to be the gold standard for care, the center has added to its diagnostic tools what’s considered to be an even better system – three-dimensional “Breast Tomosynthesis.”

“Reid Health as an organization has always kept the latest technology as a driver for what we want to be able to offer our patients,” said Reid President/CEO Craig Kinyon. “It was a priority for every technology decision when we planned our new campus more than a decade ago, and we are always continually bringing the best resources we can find to help diagnose and treat our patients. Our imaging and technology portfolio continues to meet, and sometimes exceed, what is available to patients in large urban health systems.”

Beth Ingram, M.D., radiology, said the technology is another option that can enhance early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer in women. “It is particularly advantageous for women who have dense breast tissue or other characteristics that make 2-D imaging challenging. In some women, it will reduce the need for extra images to clarify or rule out a potential abnormality,” said Dr. Ingram.

“The technology takes a series of X-ray images from many angles and then assembles them into a 3-D picture of the breast,” she said. This results in clearer images that can help detect problems in their earliest stages. “We have added this technology as an adjunct to our already excellent systems so that we can ensure the very best tools are available for the women we serve. We want to reduce the ability of breast cancer to hide and want women to leave Reid Health feeling confident they have had the best exam possible.”

The technology means:

· Fewer call backs for additional screening and testing

· Simple detection that shows the inner breast structure more clearly

· Better detection because thin layers of tissue are shown separately, and suspicious lesions from traditional 2-D images can be ruled out as benign

· Improved imaging for dense breast tissue

Digital mammograms have been proven to be significantly better than film-screen mammography in detecting cancers in women younger than 50 and in all women with dense breast tissue.

· Digital mammograms have been shown to spot up to 28 percent more cancers than film.

· Digital mammograms are stored directly into a computer, allowing the recorded data to be enhanced, magnified or easily transmitted for further evaluation.

The Breast Center is conveniently located just inside the main entrance of Reid Health, providing both privacy and easy access. Other services include:

· A “birthday mammogram reminder” that patients can choose to help them to remember an annual screening

· Monthly Women’s Health Day, where patients can schedule their annual mammogram and also receive a PAP and DEXA osteoporosis screening – and receive a massage and gift bag

The Reid Health Breast Center is accredited for mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.

Staff report

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