The Medical Center of Southeast Texas is now offering 3D mammography (breast tomosynthesis) — a breakthrough technology in women’s health, revolutionizing breast cancer detection.

In celebration of the expansion of its diagnostic imaging and cancer detection services, The Medical Center invites the community to attend an open house breakfast at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, in the hospital’s Auditorium, 2555 Jimmy Johnson Boulevard in Port Arthur.

3D mammography (Breast Tomosynthesis) produces a three-dimensional view of the breast tissue that helps radiologists identify and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of overlapping tissue, according to a press release from the Medical Center. The center’s Selenia® Dimensions® breast tomosynthesis system is made by Hologic, a world leader in digital mammography.

The Selenia Dimensions system offers exceptionally sharp breast images, an advanced ergonomic design providing more patient comfort, and the ground-breaking tomosynthesis platform designed to deliver superior screening and diagnostic performance for all breast types.

The Medical Center of Southeast Texas believes breast tomosynthesis will benefit all screening and diagnostic mammography patients, and is especially valuable for women receiving a baseline screening, those who have dense breast tissue and/or women with a personal history of breast cancer.

Breast cancer screening with tomosynthesis when combined with a conventional 2D mammography has a 40 percent higher invasive cancer detection rate than conventional 2D mammography alone.

2-4 Tomosynthesis technology gives radiologists increased confidence with up to a 40% t reduction in recall rates.

The tomosynthesis screening experience is similar to a traditional mammogram. During a tomosynthesis exam, multiple, low-dose images of the breast are acquired at different angles.

These images are then used to produce a series of one-millimeter thick slices that can be viewed as a 3D reconstruction of the breast. By offering women the latest and more accurate6 technology in mammography, The Medical Center of Southeast Texas expects to increase the number of Southeast Texas women who will be routinely screened. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Statistics indicate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her lifetime. The stage at which breast cancer is detected influences a woman’s chance of survival. If detected early, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent.