9 / 24
By Stacie Jones
Kootenai Health
is now offering
the latest in breast imaging
technology with the addition of 3D
Mammography™. The advanced
imaging tool has been shown to
improve the early detection of
breast cancer.
“Three-dimensional mammog-
raphy is quickly becoming the
expected technology in breast
imaging, and because it is more
effective in finding cancers at an
earlier stage, it will probably soon
become the standard of care for
breast cancer screening,” said Jen
Neely, Director of Kootenai Health
Outpatient Imaging Services.
In a standard mammogram,
an x-ray unit takes flat two-
dimensional pictures from top to
bottom and side to side. With 3D
Mammography, the technology
captures images of thin slices of
breast tissue from multiple angles.
Computer software reconstructs
these images—each about a
millimeter in thickness—to create
detailed three-dimensional images
of the breast, offering radiologists
a clearer view of some cancers that
would otherwise go undetected.
S E E I N G W H A T
R E A L L Y M A T T E R S
“About 20 percent of breast
cancers are not found by traditional
mammography, partly because
dense breast tissue can mask or
hide an abnormality,” Jen said.
“3D mammograms can help find
G E T T H A T G O O D L O O K
The American College of
Radiology recommends that women get annual mammograms
beginning at the age of 40. To schedule a screening, call Kootenai
Outpatient Imaging at
(208) 625-6300
.
these difficult-to-detect cancers
sooner, leading to more treatment
options and better outcomes for
patients.”
Statistics show that three-
dimensional mammography, also
called breast tomosynthesis, can
detect up to 41 percent more inva-
sive breast cancers and can reduce
false positives, or false alarms, by
up to 40 percent. In addition to
being useful for screening women
with dense breast tissue, the 3D
mammogram is beneficial in the
diagnosis of problems with the
breast.
Jen points out that mammogra-
phy in general—whether it’s with
A N A D D E D D I M E N S I O N T O I M A G I N G S E R V I C E S
3
DMammograms
3D or traditional technology—is
still the most effective method for
finding breast cancers.
“Idaho ranks low in the nation for
women who have routine mam-
mograms,” Jen said. “The bottom
line is that we want women to get
an annual screening mammogram,
whether it’s with this new technol-
ogy or not.”
The 3D Mammography technolo-
gy is currently available at Kootenai
Outpatient Imaging’s Coeur d’Alene
location at the Interlake Medical
Building. Jen said they also hope
to install a 3D Mammography unit
in the near future at the Post Falls
Imaging Center.
Taylor Reichel, M.D., examines images
taken using 3D Mammography.
KH . ORG
9