Utilizing advanced breast tomosynthesis technology, Genius exams are clinically proven to significantly increase the detection of breast cancers, while simultaneously decreasing the number of women asked to return for additional testing.
“Bringing this advanced mammography technology to Eastside Breast and Diagnostic Center is part of our commitment to providing superior breast healthcare for our community through early detection of breast cancers,” said Beth Kruse, M.D., radiologist with Eastside Breast and Diagnostic Center in Snellville, Ga. “This new technology also allows us to capture multiple detailed views of the breast during a single mammography exam, reducing the number of women we may have to call back for a second study.”
There are varying recommendations on mammogram screening guidelines. Dr. Kruse says that Eastside’s screening recommendations center around the goal of catching cancers as early as possible, when less treatment is necessary for a better outcome for our patients. A woman’s decision to undergo mammography screening should be made in consultation with her physician.
“We recommend that women get yearly mammograms starting at age 40, sooner in certain circumstances, and continue annually through age 74 as long as their health is good,” she said. “Eastside Medical Center has identified breast cancers in women who are in their 30s and early 40s at a volume proven to be higher than the national average. This is data that emphasizes women should speak with their physician about personal risk and mammography screening recommendations.”
Multiple clinical studies show that all women, regardless of breast type or density, benefit from 3D mammography.
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. A Genius exam includes a three-dimensional method of imaging that can greatly reduce this tissue overlap effect.
A Genius low dose 3D MAMMOGRAPHY™ exam includes both 2D images and tomosynthesis scans. During the tomosynthesis 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. A low dose Genius exam requires no additional compression and each scan is complete in just a few seconds.
The platform for the Genius exam is the Hologic Selenia® Dimensions® system, the only clinically superior breast tomosynthesis system as approved by the FDA. The new system is recommended for women of all ages and breast densities. The system allows our radiologists to more effectively pinpoint the size, shape and location of abnormalities. This leads to better detection and greater peace of mind for our patients.
Large clinical studies in the U.S. and Europe have demonstrated the positive benefits of a Genius 3D MAMMOGRAPHY™ exam. The largest study to date on breast cancer screening using the Genius exam was published in the June 25, 2014 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Findings include:
•A 41% increase in the detection of invasive breast cancers.
•A 29% increase in the detection of all breast cancers.
•A 15% decrease in women recalled for additional imaging.
Eastside Breast and Diagnostic Center, a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, is committed to the fight against breast cancer. In offering the Genius exam, Eastside provides the latest and most effective imaging tool for breast cancer screening.
If you have questions about this important breast health procedure, visit EastsideMedical.com/Mammography or contact the Eastside Breast Imaging Center at 770-736-2551.
To schedule a mammogram, please call 888-843-8133.
About Low Dose Genius™ 3D MAMMOGRAPHY™ Exams
The breast is a three-dimensional object composed of different structures located at different heights within the breast. These structures can overlap and cause confusion when viewed as a flat two-dimensional image. This confusion of overlapping of 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.
While low dose Genius 3D MAMMOGRAPHY™ exams include a 2D image for use during image review, they do not require an X-ray exposure to generate the 2D image because it is created directly from the tomosynthesis slices. The Hologic system is the first FDA-approved breast tomosynthesis system in the U.S. Hologic Genius 3D MAMMOGRAPHY™ exams are now available in all 50 states and over 50 countries. To date, more than 8 million women have been screened with this advanced screening system.
