Improved Breast Cancer Detection
By Bonnie Litvack, MD, FACR
Director of Women’s Imaging, Northern Westchester Hospital
Northern Westchester Hospital is celebrating the arrival of a new Hologic 3-D Mammography unit, which produces a clearer image of the breast. We are excited to be able to offer this new imaging technique to our patients.
This innovative screening and diagnostic mammography tool is called Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) and is performed at the same time and with the same machine as the two-dimensional (2-D) mammogram. For the 3-D portion of the exam, the x-ray machine arm sweeps in an arc over the breast taking multiple thin section images of the breast. There is no additional compression required and the 3-D acquisition only takes a few seconds longer for each view. The thin section 3-D images allow the radiologist to view the breast tissue layer by layer minimizing breast tissue overlap, enabling the radiologist to provide a more confident assessment.
2-D digital mammography remains the standard of care for breast cancer screening. However, Digital Breast Tomosynthesis is now an FDA-approved option for both screening and diagnostic mammography. The medical literature has shown that Digital Breast Tomosynthesis has a higher cancer detection rate than 2-D digital mammography alone and DBT decreases the number of patients who need to be called back for additional images, reducing patient stress. Digital Breast Tomosynthesis can be beneficial for all women. However, it is most helpful for women with dense breasts, those at high risk for breast cancer and women with a personal history of breast cancer.
The Women’s Imaging Center at Northern Westchester Hospital strives to provide the women of our community with the highest level of care. Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (3-D mammography) is a new tool to help us fulfill our mission.
To schedule your annual mammogram at Northern Westchester Hospital, please call 914.666.1445.
Dr. Bonnie Litvack is Director of Women’s Imaging at Northern Westchester Hospital. She is Board Certified in Diagnostic Radiology, Fellowship trained in MRI, and has extensive experience in all aspects of women’s imaging services. Dr. Litvack takes a ’primary care’ approach with her patients, and seeks to reduce the anxiety that many women understandably experience during scans.
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