By using the best available technology and expertise, Regional One Health’s East Campus Imaging Center offers you the best chance of catching breast cancer early, when it is still treatable.
Every mammogram is done using 3D technology, which gives the most accurate images, especially for women with dense breast tissue.
All mammograms are read by a breast specialist diagnostic radiologist, resulting in better detection as well as fewer unnecessary callbacks.
Breast cancer is scary, and it touches the lives of almost all women, whether through a personal diagnosis or that of a friend or family member.
The good news is there are tools available to increase your odds of catching breast cancer early when it is highly treatable. Regional One Health’s East Campus Imaging Center makes it easy for women to access those tools with quick scheduling and the best technology and expertise.
Muhammed Afzal, MD is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist at the Imaging Center, and Patty Novak is the center’s mammogram imaging tech. They explained how they help women get their annual screening mammogram, which is recommended starting at age 40.
State-of-the-art technology
Dr. Muhammed Afzal and all of the diagnostic radiologists who read mammograms at the Imaging Center are breast imaging radiologists, meaning they provide the most accurate diagnoses.
Dr. Afzal said all mammograms at the Imaging Center, whether screening or diagnostic, are done using the newest 3D technology. “It’s shown to increase early detection of cancer, and we offer this to all our patients,” he said. “It’s especially important for patients with dense breasts.”
There are four categories of breast density, ranging from mostly fatty, non-dense tissue to very dense tissue. Dense breast tissue is most common in women who are young, have low body fat and/or take certain hormonal therapies.
In the state of Tennessee, providers are required to tell you if you have dense breast tissue when you have your baseline, or first, screening mammogram.
Dense breast tissue itself is not harmful, but it can “hide” tumors.
A mammogram is an x-ray. While fatty tissue shows up as gray, any areas of density show up as white – which means dense tissue and tumors can look the same.
Dr. Afzal said 3D technology does a much better job of picking up the difference. “The simple mammogram is not great at detecting cancer in dense breasts,” he said. “The 3D technology we use has much better diagnostic capability.”
Some women with dense breasts may still need a diagnostic mammogram or an ultrasound, both of which are readily available at the Imaging Center.
Novak said there’s a secondary advantage to the 3D technology used at the East Campus: most women find their mammogram much more comfortable.
Leading expertise
Women also benefit from the experience and expertise of the Imaging Center team.
Mammogram tech Patty Novak has performed thousands of mammograms using the Imaging Center’s 3D technology. Her experience and expertise allows her to get the most useful images for the radiology team.
As an imaging tech, Novak has performed literally thousands of mammograms. She uses her experience to put women at ease emotionally and physically, and to make sure she’s getting the most accurate, useful images possible.
Dr. Afzal is a breast imaging radiologist, which means he has specialized training in interpreting mammograms and other breast exams. Every breast exam at the East Campus is read by a breast imaging radiologist, ensuring the highest accuracy and standard of care for patients.
Studies show when mammograms are analyzed by a breast imaging radiologist, there is a higher chance of cancer being detected early, when it is still treatable.
More good news: these specialists also have lower callback rates. In other words, they are more likely to get the information they need from the screening mammogram and order fewer follow-up tests that prove to be unnecessary.
Get started today!
The exceptional technology and expertise of the East Campus Imaging Center team is easy to access. Appointments are readily available, and women can have a screening mammogram on a walk-in basis. You do not need a doctor’s order for a screening mammogram, just the name of a provider who should receive the results.
Average-risk women should start having screening mammograms annually at age 40. Women at elevated risk due to family history, and women or men who are experiencing symptoms like lumps, swelling, pain or discharge from the nipple, should see their primary care provider.
The Imaging Center is conveniently located at 6555 Quince Road, right off SR-385. It offers mammograms by appointment and on a walk-in basis 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.