We get it…no one loves getting a mammogram. But it’s the smartest way to detect breast cancer earlier.
Fujifilm's ASPIRE Cristalle, available at the Outpatient Diagnostics Center, is built with a better patient experience in mind. The exclusive Comfort Paddle moves four ways, adjusting to your body, while the ASPIRE Cristalle’s innovative 3D technology delivers excellent detail with a low radiation dose.

Experience the smarter 3D mammogram with improved diagnostic accuracy and less chance of a false-positive result and callback, when compared to 2D alone.

Here's Why It's a Smarter Kind of Mammogram

More comfortable: There's a reason women find mammograms uncomfortable. Breasts weren't meant to be compressed flat....or, in other words, squished! The ASPIRE Cristalle's patented Comfort Paddle was designed to gently adapt to your curves with four-way pivoting and flexible surfaces. This delivers more gradual, even compression of your breasts for a noticeably more comfortable exam.

More accurate readings: 3D mammography provides more detail than traditional 2D mammography. The x-ray system quickly sweeps in an arc over the breast, taking several low-dose images at different angles. These images can be viewed in thin slices. This allows doctors to see your breast tissue layer by layer, which can help reveal abnormalities that might otherwise be hidden.

Fewer callbacks: Callbacks are a fact of life in mammography. Callbacks can happen when a woman needs additional screening because the image showed a suspicious area. In many cases, the exam results turn out to be normal, but getting a false-positive result can be stressful. ASPIRE Cristalle's advanced image quality can help reduce the number of callbacks for non-cancer cases.

Questions

It's natural to have questions when getting a mammogram, especially if it's your first time. The following are responses to frequently asked questions that you may find helpful.

Why should you get a mammogram?

Mammograms can often reveal breast cancer before any apparent symptoms or a lump can be felt. Early detection is critical to catching cancers before they progress to advanced stages.

Will the 3D exam with the ASPIRE Cristalle feel different?

The Comfort Paddle was designed to be more comfortable than traditional machines. But other than that, it is the same. Your technologist will help position you at the machine in the same way.

Does it take longer than other mammograms?

3D only adds a few seconds to your exam.

Who will read my 3D mammogram?

A board-certified radiologist with subspecialty training in breast imaging and 3D mammography will read your images and report the results back to you and your doctor.

I've heard of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT).  Is that the same thing as 3D?

Yes. That is the clinical term for 3D mammograms.

Is there more radiation with a 3D mammogram?

The radiation dose with 3D mammography is higher than traditional 2D mammograms because of the additional images captured; however, it is still significantly below the dose limit established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

How do I prepare for a 3D mammogram?

Prepare the same way you would prepare for a traditional mammogram: Do not wear jewelry, deodorant, perfume, or lotion on your underarms or torso. Deodorants and powders sometimes contain aluminum, which images similarly to calcifications and can interfere with the imaging process. You will have to undress from your waist up, so wear a shirt with pants, and avoid wearing a one-piece dress. Schedule your mammogram after your menstrual period (instead of before or during) to minimize tenderness and discomfort. Limit intake of caffeinated drinks during the week before; caffeine can make breasts more tender, which can lead to more discomfort during the exam.

A series of X-rays that measures how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are packed into a segment of bone; hip, leg, spine, and arms are some commonly tested areas.

A CT scan offers more detailed information because it provides a series of X-ray images from different angles around a patient’s body. A computer then processes those images to create cross-sectional views of the bones, blood vessels and soft tissues inside the body.

The use of non-invasive imaging to diagnose patients; it includes procedures such as X-rays to detect broken bones or evaluate conditions such as lung function or  gastrointestinal disease processes.

A type of medical imaging that shows an uninterrupted X-ray image, which is transmitted to a monitor so that the movement of a body part (or of an instrument or contrast agent) can be seen in detail; it can be used for diagnosing a variety of medical conditions such as heart or intestinal disease, or it can also be used to guide procedural treatments.

Lung Cancer Screening

SampsonRMC's Outpatient Diagnostics Center offers patients with a high risk of developing lung cancer the opportunity to be screened for lung cancer and receive their diagnosis at an early stage, even before symptoms develop.

A low-dose screening computerized tomography (known as CT or CAT) scan of the chest produces detailed images of the lungs and other structures located inside the chest. The low-dose scan exposes patients to less radiation than you would receive from a normal CT scan of the chest. Individuals with high risk for lung cancer should have this screening added to their annual preventive health screenings.

High-Risk Patients

High-risk patients are individuals who meet the following risk factor:

• History of heavy smoking*
• Current or previous smoker  
• Patients age 50 to 80

*Heavy smoking is defined as a smoking history of 20 "pack years" or more.  A pack year is the number of years smoked multiplied by the number of packs of cigarettes per day.  For example, an individual that smoked one pack a day for 20 years (1x20=20) or two packs a day for 10 years (2x10=20), would be defined as a heavy smoker.  

Early Detection is Key

Low-dose cancer screenings can offer peace of mind. Screenings, when used as part of your annual preventative health check-ups, allow your provider to see any abnormalities with your lungs before presenting with symptoms, and most often catching the cancer in the early stages.

Low-dose scans of the chest for high-risk patients are covered by Medicare and most insurance plans. It is recommended that you check with your insurance provider for coverage details. Medicare requires patients to be between the ages of 55 and 77 and will only cover the screening once every 12 months.

What if an abnormality is found on my screening?

Not all abnormalities found during a low-dose cancer screening are diagnosed as early-stage cancer. If the CT indicates an abnormality, results will be shared with your referring provider for additional follow-up. Depending on its size, your provider may refer you for a diagnostic CT. This will give your provider more information to determine the appropriate level of care.

Diagnostic CT is also provided at the Outpatient Diagnostics Center. Our 64-slice CT is the only one in the local area and provides dramatically detailed images of your lungs in just minutes. Having the clearest diagnostic image is important in arming your doctor with the information needed for the early treatment of lung cancer. 

Uses non-invasive imaging technology that produces three dimensional detailed anatomical images. This technology makes it possible to create remarkably clear 3D cardiovascular, vascular, and musculoskeletal images.

Uses a radioactive tracer, which is usually injected into a vein, and a camera that allows images to show how organs and tissues are functioning.

Uses mammographic X-rays to pinpoint a specific area of the breast, and to then help guide the biopsy needle to a precise position.

Offered through Sampson Surgical Services

Uses sound waves to create a picture of organs, tissues, and other structures inside the body; ultrasounds do not use radiation.

 

Creates pictures of the inside of the body using a type of radiation called electromagnetic waves.