Women’s Imaging encompasses a range of diagnostic and interventional imaging tests and services designed to meet the specific health needs of women. As technologies have improved, so have screening, diagnostic and treatment modalities for a host of diseases and disorders. Of foremost interest and importance to most women are the following:
Breast Cancer Screening
Current industry guidelines suggest that women considered at average risk of breast cancer receive a baseline mammogram at age 40 so a record of healthy breast tissue can be captured and stored for later comparison. Since all breast tissue is unique, comparison images enable your radiologist and general practitioner to notice changes and detect cancer early, before it has a chance to spread and become more difficult to treat.
Women who have a close family history of breast cancer (mother, sister, daughter), have had radiation to the chest, or tested positive for the BRCA genetic mutation, may want to consider having a baseline mammogram as early as age 30.
Up until recently, mammography underserved the estimated 47% of women with dense breasts, whose healthy tissue can be hard to differentiate from cancer. Advances like 3D mammography, also called breast tomosynthesis, have greatly improved the screening process for all women. 3D mammography’s ability to spotlight abnormal tissue makes it up to 40% better at discovering invasive cancers, and at reducing false positive results. Greater accuracy with less anxiety is a huge advance in not only the early discovery of breast cancer, but also women’s healthcare in general.
Image-guided Breast Biopsy
When a mammogram shows something requiring deeper investigation, supplementary imaging may be utilized to get a complementary look at tissues, including breast MRI and breast ultrasound. Breast MRI may be particularly useful for women with a high risk of breast cancer and dense breasts, since it is able to augment mammography by providing additional information about breast tissue.
When a mass looks suspicious, a biopsy may be necessary to determine if it is cancer or a benign cyst.
Now, big innovations in radiological technologies have created image-guided breast biopsy, which enables your radiologist to pinpoint the area under investigation, and use live imaging to guide a specialized vacuum-assisted needle right to the spot of concern, so tissue can be collected with minimal invasion, trauma and recovery time. It also forgoes the wait times often required for surgery, and allows fast, accurate answers. No general anesthesia is needed, and a local anesthetic helps to address any discomfort the needle may cause. A small bandage is applied and the patient is free to go home afterward. What a difference in care from not that long ago! Advances in medical technology are a beautiful thing.
Uterine Fibroid Treatment
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus, affecting 80% of women at some point, and producing noticeable symptoms in about 20-25%. Though they aren’t usually dangerous, uterine fibroids can produce very uncomfortable symptoms, such as:
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Periods that last longer than a week
Bleeding between periods
Cramping, pressure, a feeling of heaviness in the pelvis
Frequent urination and/or urinary urgency
Bloating, constipation
Tiredness, lethargy
Belly, back or leg pain
Pain during intercourse
The excess blood loss caused by fibroids can lead to iron deficiency anemia, causing feelings of exhaustion and weakness. In serious cases, fibroids can contribute to reproductive issues, such as early labor or miscarriage, even infertility. So, if you’re dealing with serious ongoing symptoms, treatment may be necessary to treat fibroids and help restore life to normal.
Uterine fibroid embolization, or UFE, is a non-surgical, minimally-invasive treatment that uses live fluoroscopy imaging to guide your interventional radiologist to the supplying uterine artery. A thin catheter directs tiny, hypoallergenic embolic particles into the artery, blocking blood flow to the fibroid(s), starving them until they shrink, greatly reducing or totally eliminating symptoms.
RAO’s Board-certified interventional radiologists have more than 20 years of experience performing UFE, and provide outpatient UFE at trusted local hospitals for your convenience.
Varicose Vein Treatment
Varicose veins affect both men and women, but women seek treatment for them about twice as often. What we can take from this data is that women may be more vulnerable to visible varicose veins and/or women are more likely to be bothered by their appearance. Some men may be more likely to seek treatment for venous disease only once it progresses enough to produce uncomfortable symptoms, including:
Tired, heavy legs
Burning, aching or cramping of the leg
Itchy, rashy and/or discolored skin
Open sores (venous ulceration)
Whether varicose veins are giving you discomfort, or they’re merely cosmetically unappealing, RAO offers consultation, evaluation and nonsurgical, minimally invasive endovascular laser ablation, or ELA, treatment to shrink bulging veins and relieve symptoms.
ELA uses thermal energy to close and collapse the bulging vein and redirect blood flow to healthy veins. Nearly two decades of successful ELA procedures have made it the gold standard for varicose vein treatment.
Only a local anesthetic is required, so patients can walk and drive immediately afterward, and enjoy a quick recovery with minimal to no scarring.
DEXA Bone Density Testing
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DEXA, captures pictures of bones, usually the lower spine and hips, to measure bone loss. DEXA is used to diagnose osteoporosis, and assess your risk of developing an osteoporotic fracture. Simple, quick and noninvasive, DEXA can discover osteoporosis early, when treatments and behaviors to prevent fracture may be effectively employed.
Because it contains a small amount of radiation, DEXA is generally used only when bone loss is likely. DEXA is generally recommended for:
Women 65 and older at average risk
Women under 65 with family or personal history of fracture
All people (regardless of gender) 50 and older who have broken a bone and/or lost 1.5 inches in height
Men 70 and older
Knowing your level of bone loss can help you take steps to help prevent fracture, which can be a literal life-saver. Talk to your referring clinician about whether DEXA might be right for you.
RAO for Comprehensive Women’s Imaging
RAO is proud of offer 3D mammography, as well as breast MRI, breast ultrasound, image-guided breast biopsy, pelvic ultrasound and DEXA bone densitometry at our Women’s Imaging Center, and 3D mammography and DEXA at our TimberRidge Imaging Center. Beginning in March, 2023, we will offer DEXA and 3D mammography at our new TimberRidge Imaging Center at Heathbrook Pavillion.
Each of our women’s imaging centers is designated a “Breast Imaging Center of Excellence” by the American College of Radiology for safety, leading-edge technologies and best practices.
If you’re due for a screening exam or have questions about clinician-referred exams, we invite you to contact your local RAO. We’re here to help.
