New screening tools and technologies spare patients from more invasive procedures.
“One size does not fit all when it comes to breast screening,” says Linda Sanders, MD, Medical Director of The Breast Center at the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center. “At The Breast Center, we tailor imaging tests according to the particular circumstance of the patient.”
That kind of personalized care is made possible by The Breast Center’s comprehensive array of state-of-the-art breast screening equipment, including digital mammography, MRI, breast ultrasound and more.
ENHANCED TECHNOLOGY
This year, all digital mammography machines at The Breast Center were upgraded to include tomosynthesis, sometimes called 3D breast imaging. “Tomosynthesis renders small, subtle cancers easier to see in dense breast tissue,” explains Dr. Sanders.
The Breast Center also recently acquired a stereotactic breast biopsy machine with tomosynthesis. This machine gives technicians the ability to locate a breast abnormality and remove a tissue sample—a much less invasive procedure than a surgical biopsy.
“Radiologic evaluation is critically dependent upon technology,” says Dr. Sanders. “As imaging tools become more sophisticated, what radiologists can perceive expands. We can detect malignancy earlier, which may reduce the extent of the surgical procedures required.”
COMFORT COUNTS
The Breast Center is the largest single site in the state to offer curved-paddle mammography, which is designed to better fit the shape of a woman’s breast and decrease discomfort.
“The other wonderful thing about our Center is that we have dedicated mammographers and breast interventionists right on site,” says Dr. Sanders, “We’re not reading results remotely. We’re actually here to examine and speak to a patient, as needed.”
STATE-OF-THE-ART SCREENING AT THE AMBULATORY CARE CENTER
The Imaging Center at the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center is one of the region’s largest and most technically advanced—and that pays off for patients. “Being one of the largest centers, from a volume perspective, means that we read the most images and have the most experience in diagnosing,” says Franco Grippo, Administrative Director of the Imaging and Breast Center. “And having the most up-to- date technology means we can better and more quickly pinpoint the disease state a patient is in.”
New technology at the Center this year includes:
NEWEST 3.0 TESLA MRI: “We are the first and only health system in New Jersey to have the Philips Ingenia Elition 3.0 Tesla MRI,” Grippo says. “It significantly increases the comfort and reduces the scan time for an MRI.” The Imaging Center has three other MRI machines, including two 1.5 Tesla Units and an open MRI.
SPECT-CT SYSTEM: “In this system, high-resolution CT imaging is fused with nuclear medicine functional imaging,” Grippo says. “It’s the best of both worlds.” The SPECT-CT system will be in place by year’s end.
The new machines are part of a comprehensive radiology department that also offers CT scans, X-rays, nuclear medicine, PET CTs, ultrasound, EKGs and breast imaging of all kinds. “Our goal is to create a convenient, one-stop location where patients can have all their diagnostic imaging done,” Grippo says.
To schedule a mammogram at The Breast Center at the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center, call 973.322.7888 or visit www.rwjbh.org/mammo.