3D MAMMOGRAPHY (BREAST TOMOSYNTHESIS)

Breast imaging fellowship trained radiologist practicing at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - Iowa

Breast cancer continues to be the most common cancer in women. Two thirds of new breast cancers are diagnosed in women without a family history of breast cancer. Having a mammogram that can detect cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage decreases the chance that a woman will need extensive treatment and/or die from breast cancer. The death rate from breast cancer has declined steadily by over 30% since 1990, when women started obtaining annual screening mammograms. Breast tomosynthesis produces a threedimensional view of the breast tissue that helps radiologists identify and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of overlapping tissue. This type of state of the art imaging benefits all screening and diagnostic mammography patients. Breast cancer screening with tomosynthesis, when combined with a conventional 2D mammography, has a 40% higher invasive cancer detection rate than conventional 2D mammography alone. Tomosynthesis technology gives radiologists increased confidence with up to a 40% reduction in recall rates. With breast tomosynthesis digital mammography, there is a better chance to diagnose breast cancers at earlier and more treatable stages. In the fall of 2014, 3D mammography (tomosynthesis) came to the Cedar Valley. At these facilities, given cutting edge technology, there is no increased radiation to the breasts from 3D mammography and the radiation dose is equal to that of having a conventional 2D digital mammogram. At these facilities, merely less than 5 percent of women are asked to return following an inconclusive screening mammogram, thanks to the cutting edge technology of 3D mammography and experienced breast radiologists. The majority of these recalled women simply get another mammogram and/or ultrasound for clarification. Only 1 to 2 percent of these women proceed to have a needle biopsy. Short-term anxiety from test results is shown to have no lasting effects and does not outweigh the over 30 percent reduction in breast cancer deaths and thousands of lives saved each year by mammography screening. The NAPBC accredited Covenant Comprehensive Breast Center and the Covenant Cancer Treatment Center have a strong Breast Program Leadership team and a highly engaged Cancer Committee that is comprised of breast surgeons, breast radiologists, pathologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and many trained breast health professionals who concur with American College of Radiology guidelines for breast cancer screening for women with average risk. These include: • Annual screening mammography starting at age 40 • Monthly self-breast exam • Clinical breast exam (at least annual)