3 Advantages of 3D Mammography

A mammogram is the best preventive tool in the fight against breast cancer. Early detection is vital to ensuring cancer is caught at its most treatable, curable stages. 

Any woman who needs breast screening should consider 3D mammography. BJC HealthCare was the first to offer 3D mammography in St. Charles County. This technology offers the highest resolution breast scans available — and is offered at both Barnes-Jewish St. Peters and Progress West Hospitals. 

Better detection in dense breast tissue. Women with dense breast tissue in particular may benefit from 3D because it provides a clearer picture. Dense breast tissue can cause shadows due to overlapping tissue, which hides tumors from traditional 2D mammography. 3D mammography takes images of the breast from multiple angles, offering a clearer look through and around breast tissue.

More accurate detection. Using 3D mammography makes it easier for doctors to catch breast cancer early. Compared to traditional mammography machines that produce one flat picture, 3D mammography produces layers and layers of high-resolution images of breast tissue.

Earlier diagnosis. Overlapping tissue can hide small cancers in a 2D scan. However, with 3D mammography, radiologists can scroll through digital mammograms layer by layer to look for suspicious masses — allowing for earlier detection should cancer be present.

The increased accuracy of 3D mammography reduces the chances of doctors seeing a false positive and cuts down on unnecessary callbacks for additional scans and biopsies.

If your 3D image does reveals a mass, a BJC physician radiologist, who specializes in reading breast imaging, can expedite your connection to care, with world-class breast specialists at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital just steps away. Any necessary treatments, surgeries and support services you need are offered at this location, for your convenience and comfort.

To schedule your 3D mammogram at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, call 636.928.WELL(9355).