Saint Luke's Health System Takes 3-D Mammography Citywide

Women who undergo routine mammograms at any of Saint Luke’s Health System’s four major metro facilities will now have access to the latest screening and diagnostic technology available. The Center for Women’s Care at Saint Luke’s North Hospital and Saint Luke’s South Hospital Goppert Breast Center began offering 3-D mammograms, or breast tomosynthesis, for breast cancer screening on Tuesday. Saint Luke’s East Hospital led the way in offering 3-D mammography in the Kansas City metropolitan area in February of 2012, with Saint Luke’s Hospital following suit this summer.

The system offers exceptionally sharp breast images and a groundbreaking 3-D tomosynthesis platform designed to deliver superior screening and diagnostic images.

Breast tomosynthesis is a revolutionary technology that gives radiologists the ability to identify and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of overlapping tissue. During a tomosynthesis exam, low-dose images of the breast are acquired at different angles. These images are then used to produce a series of one-millimeter thick slices that can be viewed as a 3-D picture of the breast.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Statistics indicate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her lifetime. Early detection improves patients’ prognosis and the chance for treatment success.

Saint Luke’s Health System is committed to the fight against breast cancer. Patients due for their annual mammogram do not need a doctor’s order for a screening 3-D mammogram. Walk-ins are welcome.

To learn more, patients can call Saint Luke’s Concierge at 816-932-5100.

About Saint Luke’s Breast Care
Saint Luke’s Health System offers women access to the latest in breast imaging technology and minimally invasive biopsy techniques. The four metro facilities (Saint Luke’s East Hospital Breast Center, Saint Luke’s North Hospital Center for Women’s Care, Saint Luke’s South Hospital Goppert Breast Center, and Saint Luke’s Hospital Breast Center) feature fellowship-trained breast radiologists, board-certified breast surgeons and high-risk breast clinics for women who are at an increased risk for developing breast cancer. In addition, the centers offer walk-in mammograms, breast cancer support services and counseling and nurse navigators to provide care coordination and advocacy. Services may vary depending upon facility.