3D Mammography
One out of eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Carlsbad Medical Center provides helpful services to educate women on breast health and encourage self-exams and routine screenings. We utilize imaging technology that may detect breast cancer at the earliest stages, when treatment can be most effective. The combination of caring technologists and imaging technology allows us to deliver quality care.
3D Mammography
Doctors agree early detection increases a woman's chance of surviving breast cancer. Until recently, digital mammography, a 2-dimensional picture of the breast, has been the standard screening tool to detect cancer.
The breast is a 3-dimensional object composed of different structures like blood vessels, milk ducts, fat and ligaments. Viewing all of these overlapping structures in a 2-dimensional, flat image is the reason small breast cancers may be missed and normal tissue may appear abnormal leading to unnecessary "call backs."
3D mammography allows the radiologist to examine your breast tissue layers at a time. 3D mammo converts digital breast images into a stack of thin layers or "slices" to build what is essentially a 3-dimensional mammogram.
Better Images Tell a Story
A good analogy for 3D mammography is like pages in a book. Look at the cover and you cannot see all of the pages. Open it up and you can go through the entire book page-by-page to see everything between the covers. 3D mammography shows the radiologist all of the pages in the book, i.e. more area of the breast tissue to look at.
3D mammograms provide improved visibility of breast tissue which may:
- Increase early detection of invasive cancers compared to 2D digital mammography alone
- Decrease the need for "call back" or a second look by 15-20%
Low X-ray energy is used during the screening so radiation exposure is below the FDA guidelines.
Who Should Have a 3D Mammo?
Guidelines are the same as for mammography in general: yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and if older than 75 the benefits should be discussed with your physician. If you are younger than 40 years of age, discuss your options with your physician.
What to Expect
On the day of the exam, do not wear deodorant, talcum powder or lotion under your arms or on your breasts. Wear a 2-piece outfit if possible. Describe any breast symptoms or problems you may have to the technologist performing the exam. You should obtain prior mammograms and make them available to the radiologist at the time of the current exam for comparison.
A 3D mammogram is similar to a traditional mammogram. The technologist positions you, compresses your breast under a paddle and takes images from different angles. There is no additional compression required with 3D mammography and it only takes a few seconds longer for each view.
The technologist reviews the images right at the workstation to ensure the images are adequate for the radiologist to review. Your results will be interpreted by a radiologist. We use computer aided detection (CAD) which is like a second set of eyes that looks at your mammogram. The report is sent to your primary care physician or OB/GYN who can discuss the results with you. If there is an abnormality, your physician will go over your next steps.
To schedule a mammogram or other screening exam, please call (575) 887-4481.