WellSpan offers our patients advanced three-dimensional (3D) mammography technology, providing a more accurate breast exam and the comfort, speed and accuracy of a 3D/2D prone biopsy. Conventional mammograms provide doctors with a two-dimensional image of the three-dimensional breast. Overlapping layers of tissue can sometimes create unclear results, false alarms, or worse—cancer being missed.
A 3D mammography is clinically proven to provide more accurate breast cancer screenings. In fact, it:
- Detects 41 percent more invasive breast cancers
- Detects cancer 15 months earlier, and
- Reduces patient call-backs from false positives by up to 40 percent
That means more peace of mind for you, in a comparable exam experience, in the same position and breast compression as a conventional 2D mammogram. Very low x-ray energy is used during the exam, just about the same as a standard film-screen mammogram, with comparable time—only seconds more—than a 2D image.
A 3D mammography exam provides your doctor with a series of detailed images of the breast. This allows them to better evaluate your breast tissue layer by layer, making fine details more visible and no longer hidden by overlapping tissue. Because of its clinically proven increase in accuracy, a 3D exam can help reduce false positive recalls for additional imaging.
3D/2D Prone Biopsy
WellSpan is also the first healthcare organization in Pennsylvania to provide the Affirm Prone Biopsy System. This new prone biopsy table provides diagnostic testing using the latest technology. The prone biopsy system is currently available at WellSpan York Hospital and WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital.
What is the Prone Biopsy System?
When a biopsy is necessary following a routine 2D and 3D breast exam, the Affirm Prone Biopsy System provides superior image quality, allowing physicians to better target lesions and calcifications. The prone biopsy allows patients to lay down—a position preferred by most patients. The speed of the prone breast system also reduces the time a patient is under compression—providing a more comfortable, faster biopsy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 3D Mammography different from a traditional mammogram?
A 3D mammogram detects 41 percent more invasive breast cancers and reduces false positives by up to 40 percent. This means more accuracy and less stressful call-backs.
What you can expect from a 3D mammogram?
A 3D mammogram is very similar to a traditional mammogram – there’s no additional compression and it takes only a few seconds longer.
Who can have a 3D mammogram?
Please consult with your referring physician to learn if 3D mammography is right for you. 3D mammography is covered by most insurance. Please consult your insurance company for your coverage.
Who should have a mammogram?
All women in the United States can receive mammograms annually starting at age 40. That is your right. That is the law. Start screening at 40. Don’t wait.
Why are mammograms important?
When breast cancer is found early, the 5-year survival rate is almost 100 percent. It’s estimated that 1 in every 8 women will develop breast cancer within her lifetime. In 2016, approximately 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the US. That’s why a clinically proven, innovative screening technology that allows for better, more accurate detection is critical.
