Santa Fe Imaging Desert Rose Women’s Center Introduces Automated Breast Ultrasound

Santa Fe Imaging (SFI) reported that it now offers 3D automated whole breast ultrasound (ABUS) for the early detection of breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue.

Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to generate a picture of the breast tissue, and no compression is necessary.

Santa Fe Imaging Radiologist Monica Saini, M.D., emphasized that breast ultrasound does not replace mammography, which is still the gold standard, but ABUS is a new and important screening supplement available to women.

"Adding 3D automated breast ultrasound to mammography in dense- breasted women gives physicians a valuable new tool in the fight against breast cancer," said Dr. Saini. "Physicians get a clearer evaluation of dense breast tissue, which can significantly increase the rate of cancer detection at an earlier, more treatable stage."

Dr. Saini noted that for women with less dense, fatty tissue, cancer shows up on mammography as white spots on a dark (fatty tissue) background. However, for women with more dense glandular tissue, cancer appears white on a white (dense tissue) background, making it difficult and sometimes impossible to identify. With 3D automated whole breast ultrasound screening, cancer shows up black on a white background, making it much easier to identify.

Santa Fe Imaging reported that Desert Rose Women's Center at SFI uses the Invenia Automated Breast Ultrasound technology, which is clinically proven to improve breast cancer detection by 35.7 percent compared to mammography alone. The technology is especially useful at detecting smaller and earlier stage cancers in women with dense breasts, but it is also useful in telling cysts from solid masses. Supplemental imaging with ABUS is covered by insurance for most dense-breasted patients.

Santa Fe Imaging is a team of board certified radiologists, registered technologists, and patient-focused administrative staff providing radiologic imaging services for diagnosing disease and injury focusing on Northern New Mexico.

More information and complete details:

www.santafeimaging.com

((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected]))