If you want to stay on top of your health and ensure you have no signs of breast cancer, get the answers you deserve with a 3D mammography.
Little Silver Mammography and HerSpace is committed to cutting-edge technology, excellent patient care, detecting abnormalities early on, and helping women get the answers they need to start the treatments they need to live long, fruitful lives. Our team of dedicated breast imagers is proud to serve the women of Little Silver, New Jersey, and surrounding areas.
“A yearly mammography always brings me anxiety, until this year. I recently moved to the area and this was my first experience in a women’s only center. The relaxing atmosphere is a welcome change from my other facility. I was in and out so fast, I almost didn’t want to leave. Great staff thank you for the experiences.”
- What Is Breast Tomosynthesis Or 3D Mammography?
- What Does A 3D Mammography Do?
- How Does A 3D Mammogram Work Better Than A Traditional Mammogram?
- Is There Any Difference In The Experience Of Having A 3D Mammogram vs. A 2D Mammogram?
- Why Might My Doctor Order A 3D Mammogram?
- Pre And Post-Examination Care
- What Happens If My 3D Mammogram Finds An Atypical Result?
- FAQs
- Why Us?
- Get In Touch
What Is Breast Tomosynthesis Or 3D Mammography?
Breast tomosynthesis converts a stack of digital breast images into a 3-dimensional mammogram so that a radiologist can see the breast tissue image in a form impossible using 2D mammograms. In a 3D mammogram, the fine details are visible and no longer hidden by the tissue above and below.
That said, 3D mammograms take significantly more physician time to interpret the images, and many facilities limit 3D mammography to patients with dense breast tissue, existing findings or risk factors.
What Does A 3D Mammography Do?
As a 3D mammogram allows your radiologist to view your breast tissue in more detail, tiny signs of breast cancer that would otherwise be hidden by surrounding breast tissue can be detected.
How Does A 3D Mammogram Work Better Than A Traditional Mammogram?
At Little Silver Mammography and HerSpace, all our patients should benefit from 3D mammography, starting with their first visit.
Conventional 2D mammograms done during routine breast cancer screenings take two images of each breast, one from the top and one from the side. During a 3D mammography, a low-dose CT scan obtains several X-rays from the top of the breasts down to the sides, producing a 3D photo of the breasts. Only having two images from a 2D mammogram can cause your radiologist to see overlapping tissue that camouflages potentially cancerous tissue.
Research shows that 3D mammography detects 27% more cancers than traditional 2D mammography alone and 40% more for invasive cancers like lobular breast cancer. The breast contains pockets of dense tissue surrounded by fat that, when x-rayed, creates an image resembling a smoky haze. Any overlapping tissue makes it difficult to see tiny “spots” called microcalcifications and other subtle signs of early cancer.
Is There Any Difference In The Experience Of Having A 3D Mammogram vs. A 2D Mammogram?
A breast tomosynthesis exam is very similar to a traditional mammogram. The technologist will position you, compress your breast under a paddle, and take images from different angles.
Why Might My Doctor Order A 3D Mammogram?
A breast tomosynthesis exam may be utilized as a screening tool with a traditional digital or diagnostic mammogram to investigate unusual or unexpected growths. Your doctor may also recommend a 3D mammogram to find the reason for unexplained symptoms you may be experiencing.
We recommend a 3D mammogram for many women, as it has a better chance of picking up breast cancer in people with no symptoms or signs. It is a particularly beneficial screening tool for those with dense breast tissue, as this tissue can make 2D mammograms appear unclear.
Don’t be too alarmed if we recommend a 3D mammogram for you. If your breast tissue is very dense, the cloudy appearance of your 2D mammogram can conceal malignancies and signs of tumors, so our team at Little Silver Mammography and HerSpace prefers to take proper precautions.
Pre And Post-Examination Care
In the days leading up to your breast tomosynthesis exam and the day of, we have some recommendations to ensure a safe and smooth screening, including:
- Avoid wearing perfumes or deodorants on the day of your screening
- Inform us of any current medications, previous surgeries, or possible pregnancy
- Come to your appointment with no jewelry, and be prepared to remove your shirt and bra for your exam
- Try to schedule your exam soon after your menstrual cycle, as breast tissue is typically less tender at this point
What Happens If My 3D Mammogram Finds An Atypical Result?
If your 3D mammogram detects an abnormality, we may invite you to our office for further examination to diagnose the potential health issue. Follow-up examinations may include:
- MRI scan
- Ultrasound
- Another 3D mammogram
Atypical results do not always indicate that someone has breast cancer, and we usually need to examine any masses or calcifications in more detail before diagnosis. We must analyze unusual results to confirm whether they are noncancerous or breast cancer.
FAQs
What Is The Purpose Of A 3D Mammogram?
To screen breast tissue for abnormalities to detect breast cancer or other breast diseases.
At What Age Do I Need To Start Having Yearly 3D Mammograms?
The American Cancer Society recommends women have an annual mammogram starting at age 40.
Does Insurance Cover A 3D Mammography?
Some insurance providers may cover the cost of a mammogram for your annual screening, but not all do. Please ask your doctor to contact your insurance company to find out the coverage they may offer.
What Are The Risks Associated With A 3D Mammogram?
There are minimal risks when it comes to a 3D mammogram, but there is a slight chance that your mammogram may produce false-positive or false-negative results. No imaging tests are perfect, but 3D mammograms have less chance of false results than traditional mammograms. You may feel slight discomfort during your 3D mammogram, but we ensure it uses minimal pressure compared to a 2D mammography.
If you don’t see your carrier listed please call our office to confirm or you may verify directly with your carrier. To verify if we are in your plan call the number on the back of your card. You will need to provide our tax ID number 22-1904560
Why Us?
Our team at Little Silver Mammography and HerSpace has helped put hundreds of women at ease as we pursue the clinical objective of detecting and diagnosing breast cancer at its earliest, most curable stage.
We recommend thorough research to find radiologists and technologists with excellent reputations, relevant qualifications, and glowing reviews. You can read some of our ‘real patient’ testimonials here!