The fight against breast cancer has gained a strong ally, thanks to the addition of the Genius™ 3D Mammography Exam™ at Piedmont Healthcare.
Breast cancer affects one in every eight women in the United States. More treatment options exist when breast cancer is detected early. Women whose breast cancer is found at an early stage have a 93 percent survival rate in the first five years. There are over 2.8 million breast cancer survivors alive in the U.S. today.
In addition to self-exams, screening tests are recommended to detect abnormalities that may be cancerous. The best screening tool is a mammogram, an x-ray of the breast tissue. Women should get regular mammograms; the age at which to start and frequency depends on each woman’s health and family history.
Digital mammography is one of the most advanced technologies available today, but still only provides a two-dimensional picture of a three-dimensional object. The breast is made of many different components (blood vessels, milk ducts, fat and ligaments) located at different heights. When viewed in a two-dimensional image these areas can overlap, causing confusion. This confusion can lead to small cancers going unnoticed and normal tissue appearing abnormal (leading to unnecessary callbacks for further testing).
“Instead of reviewing the complex breast tissue in one flat image as is the case with traditional mammography, the 3D mammogram allows a doctor to examine breast tissue for any abnormalities one layer at a time,” said Tim Thieme, Director of Imaging at Piedmont HealthCare.
The 3D mammogram from the patient’s perspective
For the patient, the 3d mammogram exam experience is similar to a traditional mammogram. The technologist positions the patient’s breast under a paddle and takes images from different angles. There’s no additional compression required and the exam takes just a few seconds more to complete each view.
Patients are encouraged to talk to their doctor about the option to get a 3D mammogram. Whether used in conjunction with a traditional mammogram or by itself, the imaging offers women another option in early breast cancer prevention and diagnosis.
