Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/384013
COV ER FE AT UR E New Imaging Center with 3-D Tomosynthesis A new, 8,000-square-foot Women's Imaging Center — located in North Easton in the Roche Brothers Plaza at 1 Washington Place — offers women an easily accessible facility where expert mammography and ultrasound technologists use innovative technologies, including tomosynthesis, stereotactic biopsy, ultrasound-guided biopsy and bone density scans, to provide the full spectrum of imaging services. The most advanced mammographic technology available, tomosynthesis technology, has been shown to identify invasive carcinomas, thereby expanding biopsy options. Whereas traditional mam- mography produces 2-D images of the breast, tomosynthesis generates 3-D images by taking as many as 20 images and loading each into a computer where radiologists can view the pictures, identifying lesions that may be hidden in dense breast tissue. "Tomosynthesis is 3-D mammography that improves early detection of breast cancer while reducing callback rates and the need for unnecessary biopsies and additional tests, especially in patients with dense breasts and in those without prior mammograms for comparison," says Stephanie van Colen, DO, Section Chief of Mammography at Good Samaritan Medical Center. "The ability to scroll through more pictures of the breast with precise 3-D visualization is a tremendous benefit." Patients won't notice the difference between tomosynthesis and traditional mammography, but the technological advantage is clear. Suspicious lesions typically lead to patient callbacks for additional imaging and possible biopsy, but tomosynthesis reduces these callbacks by as much as 40 percent, according to Dr. van Colen. "Any patients with dense breast tissue, previous surgeries, biopsies that show high- risk lesions, or high risk of malignancies based on family history or other factors will benefit from tomosynthesis," she says. Guides to Show the Way When imaging studies identify suspi- cious lesions, Good Samaritan's patient support services team springs into action. "Secondary support services are a critical, but often unheralded, component of cancer care," says Jason Zauls, MD, radiation oncologist at Good Samaritan Medical Center. "We are fortunate to have a nurse navigator and licensed social worker who complement the advanced technology that helps our physicians treat the spectrum of cancers." Nurse Navigator Jan Amorello, RN, BSN, OCN, is a resource for patients and physicians alike, arranging appoint- ments and following up with patients to ensure they understand the intrica- cies of their care plans and follow their physicians' instructions. Trish McClean, LICSW, identifies any additiona l needs patients may have — such as transportation, nutrition or financial assistance — and arranges consultation with experts in each area. Additionally, both McClean and Amorello lend emotional assistance whenever it's needed to personalize the care for each patient and family. "Patients first meet nurse navigators at our imaging centers on the day of their biopsy or on the day their biopsy is recommended following a suspicious find on mammography," Dr. van Colen says. "Nurse navigators explain the entire process — why patient histories Women's Care at Good Samaritan Medical Center: A N E X PA NDING A RR AY OF W OME N ' S C A RE SE R V ICE S IN A L O C A L , C OMMUNI T Y SE T T ING By Michael Ferguson FROM PRENATAL SERVICES TO CANCER CARE, GOOD SAMARITAN MEDICAL CENTER COMPLEMENTS ITS PHYSICIANS WITH LEADING- EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND A NETWORK OF SUPPORT SERVICES TO OFFER THE FULL SPECTRUM OF WOMEN'S CARE IN A LOCAL, COMMUNITY SETTING. Three-D tomosynthesis is used for a patient mammogram in the new Women's Imaging Center in North Easton. 6 | Greater Boston MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M