DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY NOW AVAILABLE IN WORCESTER COUNTY
10-04-2010
Atlantic General Hospital announced today that women in Worcester County
and the surrounding region can now receive digital mammograms at the hospital’s
Eunice Q. Sorin Women’s Diagnostic Center. The facility recently
purchased and installed the Selenia™ digital mammography from Hologic™
to afford area residents the best mammography services possible.
The Women’s Diagnostic Center is very excited to be able to offer
the newest technology for breast cancer detection. Digital mammography
allows for improved screening of denser breast tissues, where small calcifications
that may be indicators of cancer are more difficult to detect. Unlike
with conventional film mammography, the images can be lightened, darkened
or otherwise manipulated to better isolate irregular tissues. This is
especially important for women under 50 or those who are premenopausal,
as they tend to have denser breasts.
By offering women the latest technology in mammography, the center hopes
to increase the number of area women who follow recommendations for regular
screenings. The screening is even quicker than conventional mammography,
and the center will make every effort to accommodate walk-ins.
“We want to make getting your annual mammogram as quick and easy
as possible,” said Nancy Helgeson, BSRS, R.T., the lead for the
Women’s Diagnostic Center. “For some time now, women have
been referred out of the area to receive their digital mammograms, which
is an inconvenience and potentially a deterrent for those women who need
their annual exams. This screening is too important and we don’t
want women to skip it or put it off.”
In addition to the digital technology, Atlantic General is offering the
MammoPad® as a standard of care for all Women’s Diagnostic Center
patients receiving a mammogram. An FDA-cleared disposable foam cushion,
MammoPad creates a warmer, softer and more comfortable mammogram experience.
Mammography technologists report that the MammoPad cushion makes it easier
to help patients relax and position the breast, allowing them to acquire
more tissue and even compression for the image.
For more information about digital mammography at the Women’s Diagnostic
Center or to schedule an appointment, please call 410-641-9215.