WHMS to Offer 3D Mammography with SmartCurve Technology in August

ATKINSON, NE — West Holt Medical Services is excited to announce that 3D Mammography with the comfort of SmartCurve™ technology will be available in August through the WHMS Imaging Department.

West Holt Medical Services is committed to the fight against breast cancer. In offering the Genius™ 3D Mammography exam, the WHMS Imaging Department can now provide a more accurate tool for breast cancer screening.

Compared to 2D alone, researchers have found that the Genius™ 3D Mammography™ exam detects 20-65% more invasive breast cancers, is superior for women with dense breasts, and reduces callbacks by up to 40%.

In conventional 2D Mammography, overlapping tissue is a leading reason why small breast cancers may be missed, and normal tissue may appear abnormal, leading to unnecessary callbacks. Using breast tomosynthesis technology, the Hologic system creates a 3-dimensional image of the breast structure, which enables radiologists to more clearly see through overlapping tissue to detect cancers, often at an earlier stage.

“Think of it as looking at a book. A 2D mammogram is like looking at the cover of a book. A 3D mammogram is like looking at the pages inside a book. If the cancer is on page 43 of the book, we wouldn’t know that by only looking at the cover,” shared Kylee Borg, Imaging Team Leader at West Holt Medical Services.

A Genius exam includes both 2D images and tomosynthesis scans. During the tomosynthesis-DIMENSIONAL portion of the exam, an X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple images. A computer then converts the images into a stack of thin layers, allowing the radiologist to review the breast tissue one layer at a time.

Advantages of SmartCurve™ Technology

In addition, West Holt Medical Services is the first in the region to offer the SmartCurve™ breast stabilization system, which is clinically proven to deliver a more comfortable mammogram without compromising image quality, workflow or dose.

“Mammograms play such a critical role in the early detection of breast cancer and we’re hopeful that with the addition of the SmartCurve system, we’ll be able to lessen the pain and anxiety associated with mammograms and, as a result, increase screening compliance for the countless women who have reported avoiding regular mammograms due to the fear of discomfort associated with breast compression,” said Borg.

“With this new technology, we are not only able to provide a more comfortable mammogram, but can do so while maintaining clinical accuracy, which is key.”

The SmartCurve system features a proprietary curved surface that mirrors the shape of a woman’s breast to reduce pinching and allow better distribution of force over the entire breast. In a recent clinical study comparing the SmartCurve breast stabilization system to traditional flat paddle compression, the SmartCurve system improved comfort in 93 percent of women who reported moderate to severe discomfort with standard compression. In addition, 95 percent of those surveyed would recommend facilities that use the system.

“We’re excited to provide this first-of-its-kind technology to our patients and remain committed to offering the women of our community the best breast care possible,” added Borg.

Anyone who is interested in scheduling a 3D mammography exam at WHMS is encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider. To learn more about 3D mammography with SmartCurve technology please contact the WHMS Radiology Department at (402) 925-2811 or visit www.westholtmed.org/3Dmammography.