| The American College of Radiology
(ACR) has awarded St. Catherine’s a three-year term
of accreditation in:
- Mammography
- Breast Ultrasound
- Ultrasound Guided Breast Biopsy
- Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
The ACR is a national organization that conducts peer reviews
and awards accreditations to facilities deemed to have high
quality and safety practice standards. The ACR is based in
Reston, VA and serves over 32,000 diagnostic and interventional
radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine and
medical physicists with programs that focus on the practice
of medical imaging and radiation oncology.
Early Detection
Great strides have been made towards women getting the message
that an annual mammogram is key in the early detection and
fight against breast cancer.
Within the last decade, many medical advances have been
made in diagnostic procedures regarding breast disease. Women
can rest assured that St. Catherine's offers state-of-the-art,
accurate tests and procedures.
St. Catherine's offers the following
services:
- Comprehensive Screening Mammogram Program:
Routine screening mammograms are performed 6 days a
week on asymptomatic patients. All mammograms are digital
with CAD (Computer Assisted Detection).
- Diagnostic Mammography: Comprehensive
diagnostic work up is performed on patients with
abnormal screening mammogram or symptoms. Patients seen
for diagnostic workup are given same day results by the
doctor.
- Diagnostic Ultrasound: High-resolution
ultrasound machines are used to detect masses and for ultrasound
guided fine needle and core biopsies. Most of the biopsies
performed have benign results and the patient does not have
to proceed with surgery.
- Stereotactic Biopsy: Our hospital suite
is equipped with a state-of-the-art Lorad stereotactic table
with the most advanced vacuum assisted biopsy techniques.
A technologist and nurse assist the doctor who can biopsy
microcalcifications (millimeters in size) and lumps that
are not palpable and are not seen on an ultrasound. This
non-surgical imaging guided biopsy requires only local anesthesia
in the breast. Most women get benign results and do not
have to proceed with surgery. For the women that do need
to proceed with surgery, the comprehensive biopsy results
often allow for definitive surgical treatment in one operation.
- Needle Localizations: A lump that cannot
be felt needs to be localized prior to surgical biopsy for
a surgeon to remove. In such cases, a guide wire is placed
into the breast prior to surgery by using either a mammogram
or ultrasound to guide the placement and locate the area
for biopsy. The wire actually hooks through the areas (calcification
or nodule) to be removed. The mass or calcifications and
the wire are removed in the operating room and sent back
to mammography to be X-rayed and confirm the removal of
the correct area while the patient is still in the operating
room.
- Breast MRI: Breast MRI is currently
being performed for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients,
high risk patients, and implant evaluation and for
problem solving. MRI guided biopsy is performed if indicated.
Imaging Test to Detect Osteoporosis:
DEXA Bone Densitometry: The "gold standard" of bone
assessment methods. This non-invasive test is a baseline assessment
for osteoporosis and can be completed in a matter of minutes.
The test results will provide important information to assess
the next steps in care for the prevention of future bone loss
and in limiting a person's risk of a devastating injury. When
an appointment is made for a mammogram, one can also be made
for the bone density testing.
For further information, call the
Physician and Health Referral Line at (631) 870-3444.
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