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WINTER 2018
WINTER 2018
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3D Mammography
SBH is the first hospital to bring women in
the Bronx a comprehensive low-dose breast
cancer program that includes the benefits of
both 3D mammography and biopsy.
“This technology is particularly important
for women who live in underserved
communities like the South/Central
Bronx,” says Dr. Bert Petersen, director,
division of Breast Surgery at SBH. “Since
early detection is critical, the use of
technology like 3D mammography allows
doctors to see masses and distortions
associated with cancers significantly
more clearly than with conventional 2D
mammography. I applaud the hospital for
making this technology available. It will
help save lives.”
Even prior to the advent of 3D
mammography, SBH has been extremely
effective in its mission to detect breast
cancer early. According to Dr. Petersen,
while the national average for early
detection is 66 percent, the hospital has
enjoyed a rate of 82 percent, with the
hopes now of improving on this with the
new technology. “It’s not just about being
on the cutting edge of technology, but
about making sure our patients get the
best possible care.”
Studies have shown that 3Dmammography
(the technology is called tomosynthesis)
will help doctors detect breast cancer
early. The new equipment and
comprehensive breast imaging program
has the ability to detect 20 - 65 percent
more invasive breast cancers compared
to 2D alone. It also reduces false positives
by up to 40 percent and is FDA approved
as superior for women with dense breasts
compared to 2D alone.
A 3D exam is analogous to flipping
the pages of a book. By taking many
pictures of the breast, the radiologist
gets to read multiple images. According
to Dr. Daphne Roitberg, director,
Breast Imaging at SBH, by examining
breast tissue layer by layer, the new
technology has been shown to provide
far greater accuracy than conventional
mammography (regardless of a women’s
age or breast density). This makes fine
details more visible. Tomosynthesis also
uses very low x-ray energy during the
exam, about the same as a film-screen
mammogram. The procedure itself is
similar to the conventional 2D exam.
“Tomosynthesis is a dramatic
improvement over conventional 2D,” says
Dr. Roitberg. “With the old technology, a
small lesion in the breast can be hidden
because of overlapping breast tissue. The
3-D provides more detailed information,
as it’s a more precise way of looking at
breast tissue layer by layer. It’s truly a
breakthrough technology.”
In addition, says Dr. Roitberg, the
reduction in callbacks spares women the
emotional and practical toll of additional
testing, including possible biopsies.
Tomosynthesis can be used for both
screening and diagnostic purposes.
The American College of Radiology
recommends annual screening for
women beginning at age 40. Diagnostic
mammography is used to evaluate a
patient with abnormal clinical findings –
such as a breast lump or nipple discharge
– found by a patient or physician. A
diagnostic mammography may also be
performed after an abnormal screening
mammogram in order to evaluate
the area of concern on the screening
exam, or as a follow up examination for
probably benign findings.
Studies show that one in eight women
will develop breast cancer in her
lifetime. Nearly a quarter of a million
new cases of invasive breast cancer
are diagnosed annually among women
in the U.S. Eight out of nine women
diagnosed with breast cancer have no
family history. With early detection,
the five-year survival rate is almost
100 percent.
3D MAMMOGRAPHY TECHNOLOGY PROMOTES:
• Earlier detection of small breast cancers that may be hidden during digital
mammography
• Greater accuracy in pinpointing size, shape and location of abnormalities
• Fewer unnecessary biopsies or additional tests
• Greater likelihood of detecting multiple breast tumors
• Clearer images of dense breast tissue, which conventional mammography has a
more difficult time detecting breast cancer
“It’s not just about being on the cutting edge of technology,
but about making sure our patients get the best possible care.”
– Dr. Bert Petersen
Cardiac
Catheterization Lab
Physicians and administrators at SBH Health
System cut a ribbon this fall to officially open
the new cardiac catheterization lab.
The lab’s suite features advanced
technology including sharper image
quality and low-dose radiation exposure
to patients and staff.
The new lab showcases the latest
cardiovascular technology, including
Phillips Xper hemodynamic monitoring
system and Siemens digital imaging
x-ray system. The Siemens system’s
resolution is four times greater than
traditional x-rays, providing physicians
with better visualization when
performing procedures. This is the
hospital’s second catheterization lab,
which should allow the interventional
cardiology team to increase their annual
number of procedures by as much as
20 percent.
“Along with the more advanced
technology, the second cath lab gives
us greater flexibility and capability in
performing both lifesaving and diagnostic
cardiology procedures,” says Dr. Sulejman
Celaj, director of the Cardiology
Department at SBH. “The improved
image quality and low-dose radiation will
support enhanced patient outcomes.”
Cardiac catheterization is performed to
determine if a patient has disease of the
heart muscle, valves or coronary (heart)
arteries. It can also measure the pressure
and blood flow in the heart. During the
procedure, a contrast dye visible using
x-ray is injected through the catheter.
The x-ray images show the contrast as it
flows through the arteries of the heart and
demonstrates any areas that are blocked.
“Along with the more advanced technology,
the second cath lab gives us greater flexibility
and capability in performing both lifesaving
and diagnostic cardiology procedures.”
– Dr. Sulejman Celaj
CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION
HELPS DOCTORS:
• Identify narrowed or clogged
arteries of the heart
• Measure blood pressure within
the heart
• Evaluate how well the heart
valves and chambers function
• Check for heart defects
• Evaluate an enlarged heart
• Decide on an appropriate
treatment
