Wright Memorial Hospital to offer 3-D mammography starting 2016

The statistics are startling: 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. It’s the second leading cause of cancer death among American women. In January 2016, Wright Memorial Hospital will become one of the only hospitals in the area to offer 3-D mammography. 

Unlike traditional mammography, which takes four images of the breast, 3-D mammography takes 200 detailed images. These help radiologists identify and characterize individual breast structures, which can help catch up to 40 percent more cancers.

“The technology is advanced, but the result is simple: We’re able to detect cancer earlier, with fewer call backs for additional tests,” said Gina Grime, manager of radiology. “This means we can start treatment earlier and give patients a much better chance at a full recovery.”

Having a 3-D scan isn’t much different than a traditional mammogram. The only difference is an X-ray arm that takes additional, low-dose images from multiple angles. Each view produces a series of 50 1-millimeter-thick sliced images.

“By looking at these slices, we’re seeing so much more of what was hidden before,” Grime said. “We have greater accuracy in determining what’s benign and what might be cancerous.”

3-D mammograms are especially beneficial for women who are high risk for developing breast cancer, which includes women, who:

• Had previous mammograms with ambiguous or inconclusive results
• Have dense breast tissue
• Have been called back for repeat breast scans
• Have undergone biopsies for suspicious masses or lesions
• Had (or currently have) breast cancer or have a family history of cancer

For more information on 3-D mammography, call 660-358-5793, or learn more about our 3-D mammography services.