Merit Health Natchez Brings Three-Dimensional (3D) Mammography to the Miss-Lou
4/29/2019
Technology that helps detect breast cancer in its earliest stages now available locally
NATCHEZ, Miss. – April 29, 2019 –Three-dimensional (3D) mammography has landed at Merit Health Natchez, adding a new dimension to the fight against breast cancer. “We are extremely pleased to add this technology, the only one of its kind in the Miss-Lou Region, that provides better, earlier breast cancer detection for our patient,” said Lance Boyd, CEO of Merit Health Natchez.
According to the American College of Radiology, utilizing advanced breast tomosynthesis technology, 3D mammography exams are shown to be an advance over digital (2D) mammography, with higher cancer detection rates and fewer patient recalls for additional testing.
“Accuracy in your mammogram is crucial. This technology also enhances the clarity of the images, and our mammography technologists know all these benefits associated with 3D mammography will result in better peace of mind for our patients,” said Susan Grayson, Director of Medical Imaging at Merit Health Natchez. “We could not be more excited about bringing this technology to our patients.“
While patients may see little difference between a conventional 2D mammogram and a 3D mammogram – about the same amount of time and same positioning – the real difference will be in the information available to the radiologist reading the exam. During the tomosynthesis portion of the exam, an X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple images. A computer then coverts the image into a stack of thin layers, allowing the radiologist to review the breast tissue one layer at a time. “This technology truly is a game changer in the fight against breast cancer, and I commend this hospital for investing in it for this community,” said Dr. Norwood Smith, Radiologist with Jackson Radiology Associates and part of the team who provides radiology services for Merit Health Natchez.
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