Mammography
Understanding Mammography
A mammogram is a safe, low-dose, X-ray of the breast. Routine, annual mammograms are the best screening tool available for breast cancer because they can detect changes in the breast long before any symptoms appear or any lumps can be felt. When tumors are found early, more treatment options are available. In addition, small cancers are the most curable.
Two kinds of mammograms are available. A basic screening is performed when no symptoms are present to detect the presence of any abnormalities. A diagnostic mammogram, which provides additional images, is done to detect and diagnose breast disease in women who are experiencing symptoms.
This vital imaging exam is available at numerous locations throughout the Morton Plant Mease network of imaging centers.
One Mammogram, Two Reviews
Morton Plant Mease is one of the only health care providers in the area to offer computer-aided detection technology (CAD). CAD is computer software that searches your mammogram for any abnormal areas of density, mass or calcification and highlights them for further analysis. In essence, CAD acts as a second pair of eyes – eyes that can see what the human eye cannot. In fact, it’s the biggest medical breakthrough in breast cancer diagnosis since the mammogram. Here’s why:
- Studies show using CAD along with human review could result in 23.4% more cancers being detected earlier
- Used in conjunction with film-based mammograms, CAD digitizes the image much like a photo that is scanned into a computer
- CAD technology makes evaluations more accurate
- A CAD reading aids the radiologist in a way similar to a spell-checker on a computer, by highlighting suspicious areas on a mammogram
CAD technology is available at these imaging locations:
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