Publication

Cass Regional Medical Center is proud to be one of the first hospitals in the Kansas City area to offer high-resolution, 3D mammograms and curved mammogram paddles to reduce discomfort during exams.

The high-resolution technology, which takes many more images than regular 3D mammograms, uses artificial intelligence to fuse multiple images in order to provide doctors with greater detail.

In addition, Hologic's SmartCurve™ breast stabilization system, now available at Cass Regional, helps alleviate the pain that some patients experience with mammograms.

"Pain is the number one complaint that patients have about mammograms," said Julie German, director of Medical Imaging. "The fear of pain is a top reason many women have never had a mammogram. The SmartCurve system provides a more comfortable exam, which will hopefully convince more women to get this vital screening," she added.

Why it matters

The curved paddle design distributes pressure more evenly over the breast to reduce pinching, and 93% of women reported increased comfort with the SmartCurve system.

Cass Regional has long been a leader in advanced mammography technology, and in 2015 was the first hospital in Cass County to offer 3D mammography. 3D mammograms are clinically proven to significantly increase the detection of breast cancers while decreasing the number of women asked to return for additional testing. This can mean an earlier diagnosis and a greater variety of treatment options.

"Now, we can combine the powerful diagnostic capability of a high-resolution, 3D mammogram with the increased comfort of the SmartCurve system," said German. "It is our goal to save more lives by giving women greater peace of mind when it comes to getting a mammogram, so they take that important step to get screened."

Categories: Women's health