Northside First in Atlanta to Offer Breast Tomosynthesis
Women who undergo routine mammograms at Northside Hospital now have the latest diagnostic technology available to them, digital breast tomosynthesis, also known as 3D mammography. Northside Hospital is the first hospital in Atlanta to implement this groundbreaking technology from Hologic’s Selenia Dimensions System.
“Northside’s desire to be first in the Atlanta market shows our commitment to implementing the latest technological advances for early detection of breast cancer,” says Deidre Dixon, director of radiology services, Northside Hospital.
One in eight women will get breast cancer sometime during her lifetime. Early detection is the best protection. The American Cancer society recommends that beginning at age 40, women should have annual mammograms. Studies have shown a significant decrease in breast cancer deaths in women who receive regular mammograms. Breast tomosynthesis is the latest advance in the fight against breast cancer.
During the same compression, patients will receive their traditional screening mammogram and breast tomosynthesis. Tomosynthesis takes a series of images from multiple angles around the breast. These are then reconstructed by a computer to provide a 3D model of the breast. Studies have shown that the combination of 2D and 3D mammograms provides the best evaluation of the breast.
“I am thrilled about the benefits that tomosynthesis can offer to our patients” says Dr. Lynn Baxter, director of breast imaging, Northside Radiology Associates. “It allows us to see inside the breast in a way we’ve never been able to with traditional mammography. It can unmask cancers that are hidden by dense tissue and can prevent patients from being recalled for more images due to the overlap of normal tissues that can mimic cancer on a 2D mammogram.”
Initially breast tomosynthesis will be available at Northside’s Atlanta Breast Imaging Center, with plans to expand to other breast imaging locations in the upcoming year.
Northside Hospital diagnoses and treats more cases of the disease than any other hospital in Georgia. Every year, Northside performs nearly 80,000 mammograms through outpatient screenings, diagnostic exams and ScreenAtlanta, the hospital’s mobile mammography van. Northside’s state-of-the-art imaging services have been ranked number one for the past six years by metro Atlanta consumers in the National Research Corporation’s annual Healthcare Market Guide study.
Click here for more information about Imaging Services available at Northside.
