Women’s imaging services exist to help women own their health. From screening services to interventional procedures, these five services help you stay healthy and take control of your health.
1. A Mammogram: Possibly the Best-Known Women’s Imaging Service
When we think of women’s imaging, we most often think of mammograms. A mammogram remains one of the primary tools in the fight against breast cancer.
Medical Imaging of Fredericksburg recommends that women begin getting an annual mammogram when they are 40 years old, or 10 years before a first degree relative was diagnosed with breast cancer.
2. 3D Mammogram: The Latest Technology in Women’s Imaging
With any cancer, early detection is key to treating the disease. That’s why 3D mammograms are such a huge innovation. The three-dimensional view of your breast provides a more detailed picture of your breast tissue, allowing for 35% better cancer detection over the traditional 2D mammogram. Not only that, but because it provides a clearer and more detailed picture, patients receive fewer callbacks and false positives.
Receiving a 3D mammogram is nearly the same as the 2D mammograms you’re used to. There is no extra compression, and the process only takes a few seconds longer than a 2D mammogram. As in the 2D Mammogram, a very low-dose x-ray is used.
3. A DEXA Scan (A.K.A. A Bone Density Scan)
Did you know that your bones begin to deteriorate after age 35? In fact, they become even weaker once you reach menopause and your estrogen levels decline. That is why it is so important for you to get a DEXA scan.
A DEXA scan is a bone density scan that allows doctors to diagnose Osteoporosis and other conditions. Most adults aren’t diagnosed with Osteoporosis until after a fracture occurs. A DEXA scan makes it possible to diagnose Osteoporosis before a fracture, which allows your doctor to begin treatment to potentially prevent it.
4. Ultrasound
Ultrasounds allow us to see soft tissues, like organs. Normally we think of ultrasound for getting a picture of the fetus during pregnancy, but it can actually be used to view many other organs and areas of your body including the thyroid, pelvis, or abdomen. An ultrasound can help diagnose a variety of diseases and conditions within those areas and more. Your doctor will recommend an ultrasound when and if you need one.
5. Interventional Procedures
Interventional procedures use medical imaging techniques like x-rays, ultrasounds and CT scans to guide minimally invasive procedures. This allows doctors to treat some diseases and perform biopsies without the need for surgery. Interventional procedures pose a lower risk to the patient and are less of a disruption to their life.
Women’s Imaging Lets You Own Your Health
Women’s Imaging services allow you to own your health. In many cases, these imaging services help doctors diagnose and treat conditions before they become life-threatening. Many of them are even covered by your insurance.