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Hillcrest Adds Digital Mammography

Waco, Texas – Incorporating revolutionary imaging technology, Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center recently added digital mammography to its comprehensive diagnostic services.

“Digital mammography is becoming the cornerstone of breast imaging in the fight against breast cancer,” said Henry Boehm III, MD, medical director of the Diagnostic Imaging Center at Hillcrest.

 From the patient’s point of view, a digital mammogram is identical to traditional mammography. Both use X-rays to generate images of the breast. However, instead of using film to capture and record the picture, a digital mammogram converts X-ray energy into a digital image. The resulting file is immediately available to the radiologist for evaluation.

Radiologists like Dr. Boehm can view and manipulate the images on high-resolution computer monitors that enhance visualization of the structures within the breast tissue. Physicians can magnify specific areas to help detect small calcifications, masses, and other changes that may be signs of early cancer.

“One of the key benefits to digital technology is the increased sensitivity to detect some cancers that might otherwise go undiagnosed until later,” said Russell McClellan, MD, a radiologist at the Diagnostic Imaging Center at Hillcrest.

Tumor tissue and breast tissue both look similar on the mammograms, so tumors can be difficult to see, especially if a woman has dense breasts.  The digital technology increases the chances of finding breast cancer in women who are younger than 50, Dr. Boehm added.

The ever-increasing need for storage space required for hard copy mammography film is now a thing of the past.  Digital images are easily stored and transferred electronically, eliminating the dependency on one set of original films, which can be misfiled or lost.  Though the physical procedure is the same for the patient, she too will see practical benefits.

“Digital mammography has been proven to provide superior image quality. Several benefits include: improved detection of abnormalities; reduced radiation exposure; shorter exam times; reduced waiting time for appointments; and fewer call backs for additional films.  We are very excited to bring this technology to Waco,” said Susan McJunkin, director of the Diagnostic Imaging Center at Hillcrest. 

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer.  Statistics demonstrate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her life. The stage at which breast cancer is detected influences a woman’s survival. If detected early, the five-year survival rate is 97%.

Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center offers a complete range of imaging services including computed and digital radiography, mammography with Computer Aided Detection, 4-D ultrasound, 64-slice Computed Tomography (CT), nuclear medicine, bone densitometry, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), PET/CT, interventional radiology and Picture Archival Communication Systems (PACS).  Services provided by the Diagnostic Imaging Center are provided by radiologists with fellowship training in all modalities and by nationally registered radiologic technologists and registered nurses.

For more information on this and other Hillcrest services, call (254) 202-4262 or visit www.hillcrest.net.

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