Uniontown offers state-of-the-art mammographies
Local women now have access to state-of-the-art digital mammography screenings at the Uniontown Hospital and its new Outpatient Diagnostic Center. Digital mammography screening is not available at any other hospital within a 50-mile radius, which means that local women would have to travel to a Pittsburgh facility to receive similar testing, according to Uniontown Hospital employees.
In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, employees demonstrated the new equipment and explained the advantages and changes patients can expect during a recent tour of the Outpatient Diagnostic Center, located at the Fayette County Business Park off Route 40 in South Union Township.
The hospital spent $750,000 to install two new digital mammography units – one at the Outpatient Diagnostic Center and one at the Uniontown Hospital. The equipment was installed about two months ago.
Dr. Robert Camele, a radiologist who will become director of the hospital’s radiology department on Wednesday, said less than 10 percent of medical facilities across the country are offering digital mammography screenings.
“It takes less time for a woman to have an exam because the images come up right away, and women don’t have to wait for a retake because it’s not necessary,” Camele said.
A mammogram is a special X-ray examination of the breast.
The examination is performed by compressing the patient’s breast between two plates to capture the image of the breast tissue, according to a pamphlet on mammography and breast cancer screening provided by the hospital.
While there may be some discomfort, it is important that the breast is compressed to increase the image quality and lower the exposure to radiation. At least two images are taken of each breast. Each breast is X-rayed once from top to bottom and once at a slight angle. The mammography images then are reviewed by the physician and discussed with the patient.
“Some women complain about the discomfort that they have during a mammogram, but the new equipment allows the technician to know when to stop compressing the breast,” said Doris Davis, mammography technician. “With the analog equipment that was used in the past, technicians had to make that judgment on their own. Some women say the digital equipment is more comfortable for them.”
Camele explained that the hospital previously used analog mammography, which records images on a special film cassette. The examination is performed by placing the patient’s breast between the mammography unit’s X-ray tube and an X-ray film and then carefully pressing it against a compression plate. The X-rays passing through the breast tissue blacken the X-ray film.
However, the X-ray film remains white at locations where the X-rays were not able to pass through the tissue. The result is a black-gray and white image of the breast.
With digital mammography, Camele said the examination procedure is exactly the same as analog mammography. However, instead of exposing film, the X-rays hit an advanced detector, which senses the image data digitally. A physician using a special computer evaluates the resulting images. Several software tools also are at the doctor’s disposal to simplify diagnosis.
“It works in much the same way as a digital camera works,” Camele said. “The digital mammography makes it easier for the physician to examine the breast because the image can be manipulated. The way it works is very similar to Adobe Photoshop, where changes can be made to enhance the image, just like a photograph on a computer. It’s somewhat easier to magnify the images and change the contrast with the digital equipment.”
Although both analog and digital mammography involve the use of X-rays, Camele said digital mammography reduces the radiation dose by about 30 to 50 percent.
Screening for cancer is about the same for both types of mammograms, but Camele said the digital mammography makes it easier for a physician to diagnose a woman with dense breast tissue.
Because the hospital only had one mammography unit in the past, some patients had to wait for several months for a routine screening. With the installation of the second unit, the wait has been reduced to several weeks.
“This really reduced our backlog,” Davis said. “We’re open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., which is convenient for working women. We juggle our schedules to get patients in before and after work.”
Hospital employees said women also are impressed by the new building’s design, which features hardwood floors, wallpaper and furniture. The facility looks more like a home than a medical building.
Two beautifully decorated dressing areas are provided for women, who will be able to view DVDs showing them how to do monthly breast exams at home.
“As soon as we receive the DVDs, women will be able to watch them prior to the digital screening,” Davis said. “We’ve heard a lot of positive comments from women who say the new facility makes them feel comfortable and relaxed. They love it.”