Huntington Hospital Offers 3-D Mammography

This article was written by Leah Bush. 

State-of-the-art mammography equipment representing a prodigious stride in the fight against breast cancer is available at Huntington Hospital.

3D Breast Tomosynthesis, acquired by the hospital in February, provides an image which can be manipulated and viewed from different angles. Ross Wank, Chief of Radiology at Huntington Hospital, said the technology provides considerable advantages over 2D imaging technology traditionally used in mammograms.

"3D Tomosynthesis can reveal breast abnormalities that 2D mammograms alone overlook," Wank said. "In 2D the whole breast was seen in a single image. Now, with 3D we can take multiple slices throughout the whole breast so we can create a hundred images at all different angles."

Among the advantages of the new technology are the abilities to detect smaller cancers as well as multiple cancers in the breast, which can occur in up to 15 percent of patients. The technology also allows technicians to better pinpoint the size, shape, and location of an abnormality and provides clearer imaging in women with dense breast tissue. 

Wank said the technology will allow for fewer call backs and biopsies.

"Call backs and biopsies can cause extreme anxiety," Wank said. "Additionally, decrease in call backs will decrease the use of compression which was a source of extreme discomfort in previous 2D mammography." 

Huntington Hospital CEO Kevin Lawlor spoke alongside Wank at an official dedication ceremony Monday for the 3D Tomosynthesis suite in the hospital's breast cancer center.

"This is a state of the art piece of equipment that allows for better screening, better detection, and if necessary, better treatment of breast cancer," Lawlor said.
 
The suite was named after Helen and Charles Reichert of Fort Salonga. The Reicherts, who own the Fort Salonga and Larkfield IGA Supermarkets, donated $100,000 toward the equipment.

Helen Reichert is a 22-year breast cancer survivor and was treated at Huntington Hospital. Charles Reichert was moved to tears as his wife recounted her battle with the disease. 

“Breast cancer is such a terrible thing," he said, "and if this machine can help some women, why not?” 

Loretta Lawrence, Huntington Hospital Director of Breast Services, said average risk women should begin yearly mammograms at age 40.  

Huntington Hospital offers 3D tomosynthesis to patients at no additional charge. They currently see patients between 8 and 5 p.m. on weekdays, one night per month, and two weekends per month. The procedure takes approximately 20 minutes.

See Huntington Hospital's Breast Cancer Center website for additional details.