Novant Health Rowan Medical Center adds 3-D mammography
Novant Health Rowan Medical Center rang in 2016 with the addition of 3-D mammography equipment and services at Novant Health Imaging Julian Road in Salisbury made possible by generous donors.
In the photo above Jill McNeely, Breast Cancer Navigator, on the left and Eulala Taylor, Supervisor of Mammography, Rowan Breast Center stand in front of a new painting in the lobby of our Breast Center in Salisbury. The artwork is an oil on canvas containing all of the names of the donors that made it possible to purchase our first 3-D tomo mammography.
3-D mammography, known as breast tomosynthesis, is described as a revolutionary new screening and diagnostic breast imaging tool that increases early breast cancer detection rates and decreases false alarms. During the 3-D portion of the exam, an X-ray arm sweeps over the breast, taking multiple layered images in seconds.
The result is a stack of 1 millimeter image slices that provide clearer breast details. No additional compression is required, and radiation exposure is minimal. The entire exam takes about 15 minutes and is available weekdays by appointment or walk-in.
“While mammography has long been the first line of defense against breast cancer, this new and improved technology now allows us to delve even deeper,” said Stephanie Morgan, MD, a board-certified radiologist with Novant Health Mecklenburg Radiology Associates and director of Novant Health Imaging Julian Road. “Ideally, we don’t want to fight breast cancer, we want to cure it. Finding breast cancer at the earliest stages gives patients the best possible outcome.”
As the only imaging center in Rowan County to offer 3-D mammography, area women will now benefit from imaging that is more precise and detailed, according to Novant Health. This is considered to be especially good news for women with dense breast tissue. However, Dr. Morgan emphasizes that it’s a huge benefit for all women, even women with normal breast tissue.
The American College of Radiology recommends screening mammography for women starting at age 40 or earlier if there is a strong family history of breast cancer. “It’s very well studied and documented that, for the average-risk patient, annual mammogram screenings decrease the risk of death from breast cancer by 40 to 45 percent,” she added.
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