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3D Mammogram

screening for Breast Cancer

Proven to find 20-65% more invasive breast cancers compared to 2D alone

Doctors and scientists agree that early detection is the best defense against breast cancer. If we find breast cancer early, before it has spread to lymph nodes, the five-year survival rate is almost 100 percent. Until now, the best way to do that has been with digital mammography.

While digital or 2D mammography is still a great tool in the fight against breast cancer, it is only a 2-dimensional picture of the breast. The Genius™ 3D Mammography™, however, allows doctors to examine your breast tissue layer by layer. So, instead of viewing all of the complexities of your breast tissue in a flat image, as with conventional mammography, fine details are more visible and no longer hidden by tissue above or below.

What to Expect During Your Exam

A 3D mammography exam is very similar to a traditional mammogram. Just as with a digital mammogram, the technologist will position you, compress your breast under a paddle and take images from different angles. It may be used as a screening tool in conjunction with a traditional digital mammogram or may be used by itself for a diagnostic mammogram. During the exam, the X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple breast images in just seconds. Your doctor is then able to view your breast tissue in one millimeter layers. Instead of viewing all the complexities of your breast tissue in one flat image, the doctor can examine the tissue one page or “slice” at a time.

There is no additional compression required with Genius exam, and it only takes a few seconds longer for each view. The technologist will view the images at a computer workstation to ensure adequate images have been captured for review by a radiologist, who studies them and reports results to either your physician or directly to you.

What is a Genius™ 3D Mammography™?

Very low X-ray energy is used during the screening examination so your radiation exposure is below the FDA guidelines. The Genius 3D Mammography exam reduces callbacks by up to 40% compared to 2D alone, and is the only method proven to find 20-65% more invasive breast cancers compared to 2D alone, an average increase of 41%.

The Genius exam is also the only mammogram FDA approved as superior for women with dense breasts. It is truly a better mammogram for all women. The Genius exam may also be used during a diagnostic mammogram if you happen to be called back for this type of exam.

Does my insurance cover Genius™ 3D Mammography™?

3D mammography is covered by Medicare and many private insurers. Call your insurance provider to learn more.