COMMON QUESTIONS

WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR TOMOSYNTHESIS BREAST EXAMS? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

With conventional digital mammography, the radiologist is viewing the tissues of your breast overlapping on flat images. This tissue overlap can sometimes make cancers hard to detect. Also, overlap can create areas that appear abnormal, but require that you be “called back” for additional tests to determine that cancer is not present (so-called false positives).

Tomosynthesis or “3D” mammography directly addresses the current limitations of standard 2D mammography. Multiple studies have shown that “3D” mammography increases the detection of breast cancer by approximately 25% and decreases the number of false positive call backs by approximately 15%.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SCREENING AND A DIAGNOSTIC MAMMOGRAM?

A screening mammogram is done in women who have no breast cancer signs or symptoms. A diagnostic mammogram is performed in women who have been “called back” after a screening mammogram, or who have a clinical breast symptom such as a lump.

IS THE DIAGNOSTIC BREAST CENTER AN ACCREDITED FACILITY?

Yes, all of the modalities at the Diagnostic Breast Center have been accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The Diagnostic Breast Center is a FDA Certified Mammography Facility.