Editor’s Note: Lynda is a Mammographer at Woodlawn Health.
Have you seen medical care advertisements and wondered why that matters to me? I get it, and if you are outside the medical community, it can be daunting to figure out all the options for yourself and your loved ones. The good news is that I am here to help you find out what is a 3 D Mammogram and what the benefits of selecting this as a care option.
A 3D Mammogram is a digital picture. This was initially approved by the FDA in 2011. It is appropriate for all patients.
As a breast imager, I love 3D mammography for two reasons. The most important reason is that we find breast cancer much earlier. Multiple studies have shown an increase in the cancer detection rate of up to 40% when we use 3D vs 2D mammography. Another benefit of 3D mammography is that our patients are less likely to be called back for additional imaging from a screening mammogram. The recall rate has decreased significantly. You might see statistics between 15 and 40% depending on the study you read.
As a reminder, if you are over 40, today is a perfect time to schedule your mammogram.
