Digital Mammography & Ultrasound
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. With your support, we can expand and enhance breast imaging at the Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS).
Currently at BCHS, patients often have to travel back and forth between the mammographic suite and the ultrasound area when receiving care. The ideal future state is to create one area for breast imaging at the BCHS, instead of caring for patients throughout various areas of the Diagnostic Imaging department. Purchase of an additional ultrasound unit, specifically for breast imaging, will allow patients to remain in one location for all required needs including mammography, ultrasound, and biopsy. This will also free up time in the general ultrasound area to take care of more inpatients and patients from the emergency department.
Mammography is one of the most valuable tools physicians rely on to diagnose breast cancer and to follow the progression and treatment of the disease. Digital mammography is a specialized x-ray used to produce detailed images of the breast, and provides the ability to manipulate the image to to help the Radiologist more clearly see any areas of interest.
- Mammography is the most valuable tool radiologists rely on to diagnose breast cancer and to follow patients diagnosed with cancer post treatment. This specialized x-ray is used to produce detailed images of the breast.
- Breast tomosynthesis is an advanced form of mammographic imaging that allows for creation of 3 dimensional images of the breasts, proven to improve the ability of mammography to diagnose cancer in certain types of breast tissue.
- Contrast enhanced mammography is an additional tool to aid in diagnosis of breast cancer. The new equipment at the BCHS will have both breast tomosynthesis and contrast enhanced mammographic capabilities.
- Ultrasound imaging is used for a wide range of indications and symptoms and is also a complementary modality to mammography. It can help to diagnose breast lumps or other abnormalities found during an exam or on a mammogram.
The first digital mammography units arrived at the BCHS in 2012. Both units have now been classified by the vendor as end of product life in June 2021. This means that production of our current units has ceased.
“Digital mammography, with the capability for breast tomosynthesis and contrast enhanced mammography will allow us to best support breast cancer care at BCHS. Your investment will greatly increase our ability to provide our patients with exemplary care”
Dr. Angela Fleming, Chief and Medical Director of Diagnostic Imaging at the BCHS
