Dr. Norton’s Mammography Blog

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and what better time to schedule your annual mammogram. Mammography is the most reliable screening method for breast cancer detection available today. Combined with an annual clinical exam by your physician and monthly breast self-examination (BSE) it is the best way to detect breast cancer early and save women’s lives.

All too often we see women that come in to our imaging centers because their mother, sister or close friend has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Don’t let negative news get you to the doctor. Make a commitment to overall good health; schedule your mammogram today and make it an annual habit.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast is an important new approach we use to diagnose and characterize abnormalities in the breasts. Because images produced by MRI are very detailed, this
technology can detect small changes or abnormalities. Breast MRI frequently can be used to determine whether or not an area is cancerous, thereby avoiding unnecessary biopsies and it is especially helpful for evaluation of very dense breasts.

The American Cancer Society has recently announced that Breast MRI may also  be useful as a screening exam for high risk women where there is a strong family history of breast cancer. Generally, Breast MRI should not replace your annual mammogram, but if you think you fall into the high risk category, you may want to ask your doctor if this exam is right for you.

RAS recently installed several new digital mammography units. What does this mean to you, our patient? This new state-of-the art equipment accommodates larger size women, provides a shorter exam time, and provides less radiation dose to the patient. With the exception of images that are recorded and stored on computerized media, the method of performing the exam is the same as traditional — or analog — mammography.

RAS is a medical group made up of radiologists, radiation oncologists and nuclear medicine physicians. We take pride in our work and want to deliver the best, possible care to our patients available anywhere.  Our imaging centers are designed to be comfortable, our staff are compassionate and our physicians are sub-specialty trained.

That means that whether you’re having a CT of your shoulder or a mammogram, you can be confident that the physician interpreting your diagnostic exam has received extensive training specifically for that type of imaging.  This specialization sets us apart.  Patient care is our utmost concern.