It is important for all women 40 and over to have an annual mammogram. Those with a family history of cancer should start even sooner. A screening mammography is an x-ray exam designed to detect suspicious masses in the breast tissue when they are still too small to be detected by a woman or her physician. Early detection of breast cancer greatly improves the chances for successful treatment.

An ultrasound creates an image of the body using sound waves, so there is no need for radiation or injected or swallowed dyes. It also helps assess the solid or liquid nature of some masses detected by mammograms. An ultrasound is especially helpful in the detection of cysts in women with dense breasts. It’s also useful in guiding biopsy or needle localization of lumps that can’t be felt or that are hidden in areas difficult for mammography. Transvaginal ultrasound scans give physicians a better view of pelvic structures, particularly during the early and late stages of pregnancy.

Stereotactic- and Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy:

Of the many suspicious-looking shadows found on routine mammograms, less than one-third are actually cancerous. A stereotactic needle biopsy, an outpatient procedure, allows our specialists to remove and accurately diagnose small pieces of tissue from the breast without surgery. During the procedure, patients lie on a special examination table while x-rays and a computer identify the exact location of the tissue in question. Then physicians inject a local anesthetic, make a small incision and take a tiny tissue sample. It’s a minimally invasive procedure that gives our patients maximum peace of mind.

Breast MRI and CADstream:

Magnetic resonance breast imaging, also called a breast MRI, is the latest technique used to diagnose breast cancer. It allows breast images to be taken in any plane and from any orientation, so it is especially helpful for women with dense breast tissue. It is also highly sensitive to small abnormalities that are sometimes missed by other exams and can show whether small tumors are present in several areas of the breast. CADstream is the first computer-aided detection (CAD) application designed exclusively for an MRI. By automating image processing functions and correcting for patient movement, CADstream results in more standardized analysis, higher image quality and more rapid interpretation of the MRI. This leading-edge technology ultimately makes breast MRIs accessible to more women. Bone densitometry measures the bone mineral and density content of the spine, wrists, hips and femur – the most common fracture sites for women with osteoporosis. Conventional x-rays don’t reveal problems until at least 30 percent of bone mass is lost, which is too late for treatment to be of any benefit.

State-of-the-Art Bone Densitometry:

Bone densitometry is much more sensitive and can detect the early stages of osteoporosis before painful fractures occur. It also reveals the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy or other medicines that can be used to slow bone loss or rebuild bone.

Why Should You Have A Bone Density Test?

• You’re over 65.
• An assessment has determined that you’re a high-risk individual.
• Your height has decreased by over 2cm in one year or 4cm overall.
• You have kyphosis (excessive backward curvature of the spine resulting in either a hump or a more gradually rounded back).
• You’re taking glucocorticoid medication and want to determine if you’re losing bone mass.
• You suspect a recent fracture could be osteoporosis, and you want to make decisions about further diagnosis and treatment options.
• You already have osteoporosis and you and your physician are monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment.

MammoSite Radiation Therapy:

MammoSite Radiation Therapy System is a type of partial breast irradiation that delivers radiation from inside the breast to the tissue where cancer is most likely to recur. It is less invasive than a mastectomy and is provided on an outpatient basis. By delivering radiation to the place it is needed most, MammoSite minimizes exposure to healthy tissue and achieves better cosmetic results.

Gynecologic Oncology and Gynecologic Surgery:

Gynecologic oncology is the study and treatment of malignancies arising in the female reproductive tract. Our gynecologic oncology specialists can perform surgeries for gynecologic cancers ranging from a hysterectomy for microinvasive cervical cancer to pelvic surgery or radical vulvectomy surgery for vulvar cancer.

Incontinence Therapy:

Medical City offers comprehensive advanced therapy that uses the latest technology to help restore bladder control without the side effects associated with drug therapy or the recovery time associated with surgery.