Increased access to advanced breast cancer screening technology is now available at UofL Health – Medical Center South, now offering Genius™ 3D Mammography™ exams. Utilizing advanced breast tomosynthesis technology, Genius exams are clinically proven to significantly increase the detection of breast cancers, and also decreasing the number of women asked to return for additional testing.1-7
The mammography upgrade is part of a $1.5 million dollar investment in breast health for several UofL Health facilities.
“Earlier this year, we hosted a community event at Medical Center South where we discussed UofL Health’s planned investment in our facility and expansion of health services for patients in Bullitt County and the surrounding area,” said Dorie Shelburne, vice president and chief nursing officer of the UofL Health medical centers. “This investment in 3D mammography at Medical Center South represents our commitment to ensuring that the highest quality care is available to our patients in their own community.”
In conventional 2D mammography, overlapping tissue is a leading reason why small breast cancers may be missed and normal tissue may appear abnormal, leading to unnecessary callbacks. The Genius exam includes a three-dimensional method of imaging that can greatly reduce the tissue overlap effect.
A Genius exam includes both 2D images and 3D tomosynthesis scans. During the tomosynthesis-DIMENSIONAL portion of the exam, an X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple images. A computer then converts the images into a stack of thin layers, allowing the radiologist to review the breast tissue one layer at a time. A Genius exam requires no additional compression and takes just a few seconds longer than a conventional 2D breast cancer screening exam.
UofL Health – Medical Center South’s Genius 3D Mammography is also equipped with SmartCurve™, which provides improved comfort without compromising image quality. The SmartCurve system features a proprietary curved surface that mirrors the shape of a woman’s breast to reduce pinching and allow better distribution of force over the entire breast.
“Improved comfort increases the likelihood patients will stay up to date on screenings,” said Brian Mattingly, MD, director of breast care, UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center. “And the high-quality imagery provided through Genius 3D Mammography exams improves the ability to catch cancer early, which increases treatment options and the odds of beating it.”
The investment includes additional upgrades for Brown Cancer Center and UofL Health – Shelbyville Hospital.
To schedule a mammography screening appointment call: 502-681-1405.
References:
1) FDA submissions P080003, P080003/S001, P080003/S004, P080003/S005
2) Friedewald SM, Rafferty EA, Rose SL, et al. Breast cancer screening using tomosynthesis in combination with digital mammography. JAMA. 2014 Jun 25;311(24):2499-507.
3) Results from Friedewald, SM, et al. “Breast cancer screening using tomosynthesis in combination with digital mammography.” JAMA 311.24 (2014): 2499 2507; a multi-site (13), non-randomized, historical control study of 454,000 screening mammograms investigating the initial impact the introduction of the Hologic Selenia® Dimensions® on screening outcomes. Individual results may vary. The study found an average 41% (95% CI: 20-65%) increase and that 1.2 (95% CI: 0.8-1.6) additional invasive breast cancers per 1000 screening exams were found in women receiving combined 2D FFDM and 3D™ mammograms acquired with the Hologic 3D Mammography™ System versus women receiving 2D FFDM mammograms only.
4) Bernardi D, Macaskill P, Pellegrini M, et. al. Breast cancer screening with tomosynthesis (3D mammography) with acquired or synthetic 2D mammography compared with 2D mammography alone (STORM-2): a population-based prospective study. Lancet Oncol. 2016 Aug;17(8):1105-13.
5) Bernardi D, Macaskill P, Pellegrini M, et. al. Breast cancer screening with tomosynthesis(3D mammography) with acquired or synthetic 2D mammography compared with 2D mammography alone (STORM-2): a population-based prospective study. Lancet Oncol. 2016 Aug;17(8):1105-13.
6) McDonald ES, Oustimov A, Weinstein SP, et al. Effectiveness of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Compared With Digital Mammography: Outcomes Analysis From 3 Years of Breast Cancer Screening. JAMA Oncol. 2016 Jun 1;2(6):737-43.
7) Rafferty EA, Durand MA, Conant EF, et al Breast Cancer Screening Using Tomosynthesis and Digital Mammography in Dense and Nondense Breasts, JAMA. 2016 Apr 26; 315(16):1784-6.
