Mammography

3-D Mammography

Did you know that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime? That's why it's important to begin annual mammogram screenings at age 40.

Regular mammograms are essential to early detection and the fight against breast cancer. In fact, with early detection, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 100 percent.

At Sumner Regional Medical Center, your breast health is important to us. Our caring staff uses the latest technology - like 3D mammography - in a comfortable and welcoming environment to help you stay on top of your health and give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing and being prepared.

Mammography services at Imaging for Women at Sumner Station possess a valid certificate of compliance with the Mammography Quality Standards Act from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, and is accredited by the American College of Radiology.

3D Mammography FAQs

What is 3D mammography?

3D mammography is a type of digital mammography which uses advanced technology to take images of your breast from different angles and combine them to create a more complete and accurate image of your breast than is possible with regular 2D digital mammography.

3D mammography follows the same basic procedure that you're probably accustomed to with regular 2D digital mammography. 3D lasts just a few seconds longer, slightly extending the time of minor discomfort you may feel and the low-risk radiation exposure involved with all forms of digital mammography. 

Why should I get a 3D mammogram?

The more complete and accurate image of your breast generated by 3D mammography allows us to detect breast cancer earlier and more effectively than traditional 2D mammography, so that we can take action to help you fight.

3D mammography is particularly effective if you have dense breast tissue or have been given a previous cancer or lesion diagnosis.

And 3D mammography's higher accuracy means fewer unnecessary return visits to the doctor for false positives that turn out to be non-cancerous.

Benefits of 3D/Tomosynthesis Mammogram

• Reduces the chance of call back imaging- When you get a 3D mammogram, our radiologists are able to have a more in depth look at the breast tissue. This can help to determine if tissue is abnormal on the screening mammogram vs having you return for extra imaging as previously needed with 2D mammography. This is not a guarantee as there still may be circumstances where more imaging is needed.

• Increases the detection of breast cancer at an earlier stage- Due to the advanced technology of 3D mammography and its ability to take images in slices, we can see smaller abnormalities in their beginning stages that are sometimes obscured by dense, thick tissue in the breast when imaged in 2D alone. Earlier detection leads to quicker treatment planning, resulting in higher survival rates.

• Reduces the number of false-positive imaging results- A false positive is when a mammogram shows an abnormal area that looks like a cancer but turns out to be normal. Ultimately, the news is good: no breast cancer. But the suspicious area usually requires follow-up with your doctor, extra tests, and extra procedures, including a possible biopsy. There are psychological, physical, and economic costs that come with a false positive.

Benefits of a 3D Upright Stereotactic Biopsy

• Easier accessibility of areas in the breast for biopsies- Getting this type of biopsy allows you to sit upright comfortably in a chair versus the previous biopsy where you had to lay on a very uncomfortable table. By having you sit in a similar position as you do for your mammogram, we are able to access areas of concern that previously were out of our field of view on the biopsy table. This allows us to successfully complete more biopsies no matter where they are located on the mammogram.
  
  
• Faster procedure times- By being positioned the same way you are for your standard mammogram, it takes less time to find the areas of concern and allows for a quicker biopsy process. That also means less time that the breast is in compression.
  
  
• 3D imaging during the biopsy for higher accuracy of sampling- Our radiologists are able to take images during the biopsy using low dose 3D imaging. This means we always know exactly where our needle is in relationship to our targeted area of breast tissue because we can take very detailed pictures during the biopsy to replicate the mammogram.

Find out more information on the benefits of 3D mammography here.