3D Mammography at Valley Baptist Health System May Lead to Earlier Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Rio Grande Valley – Valley Baptist Health System is now offering 3D mammography (breast tomosynthesis) for breast cancer screening. Breast cancer screening with tomosynthesis when combined with a conventional 2D mammography has a 40 percent higher invasive cancer detection rate than conventional 2D mammography alone.

3D mammography offers exceptionally sharp breast images, and an advanced ergonomic design providing more patient comfort. The ground-breaking tomosynthesis platform is designed to deliver superior screening and diagnostic performance for all breast types. It produces a three-dimensional view of the breast tissue that helps radiologists identify and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of overlapping tissue.

Breast tomosynthesis has the potential to benefit all screening and diagnostic mammography patients and is especially valuable for women receiving a baseline screening, those who have dense breast tissue and/or women with a personal history of breast cancer.

“The stage at which breast cancer is detected influences a woman’s chance of survival,” said Greg Ruiz, Director of Imaging Services for Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. “By offering advanced technology in mammography, we hope to increase the number of women in the area who will come for routine screenings.”

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Statistics indicate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her lifetime. If detected early, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent.

“By providing the newest technology, we’re offering our patients the benefit of more accurate cancer detection and lower call-back rates for routine screenings, which helps lessen the anxiety and worry they may have cancer,” said Joey Govea, Director of Imaging Services for Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen.

The tomosynthesis screening experience is similar to a traditional mammogram. During the exam, multiple, low-dose images of the breast are acquired at different angles. These images are then used to produce a series of one-millimeter thick slices that can be viewed as a 3D reconstruction of the breast.