Imaging Services At Peacehealth St Joseph Medical Center
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Centers diagnostic imaging is an American College of Radiology accredited facility. To achieve the ACR Gold Standard of Accreditation, our facility’s personnel qualifications, equipment requirements, quality assurance and quality control procedures have gone through a rigorous review process and have met specific qualifications.
What Is Mammography
A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray of the breast. The breast is placed on a device which compresses it, spreading the breast enabling the x-rays to produce a precise image.
Since a mammogram is able to find such small tumors, it will catch lumps long before manual exams or symptoms begin. Catching cancer early increases chances of positive treatment and desired outcomes.
Mammography has an overall accuracy rate of 90 percent and is highly regulated for image quality. Our mammography technologists are required to have extensive specialized training in order to perform these exams. The Womens Diagnostic Center uses a state-of-the-art low radiation mammography machine which provides your physician with crisp, clear images for highly accurate readings.
Why It Is Done
* Evaluate a breast lump found on breast self-examination, physical examination, or mammogram, or when there is some other reason to suspect a possible abnormality* Evaluate the breasts in younger women because their breast tissue is often more dense, and a mammogram may not show sufficient detail.* Guide the placement of a needle or other instrument during a breast biopsy or breast surgery.* Monitor the growth of a cyst.* Evaluate your breasts if you have silicone breast implants or dense breasts.* Evaluate your breast symptoms, such as pain, redness or fever.
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What Can I Expect
The technologists at the Womens Diagnostic Center will work with each patient in order make this exam as comfortable as possible. Some mild discomfort may be experienced. This can be minimized by scheduling the mammogram just after the menstrual period ends and by avoiding caffeine one to two weeks prior to the exam.
Typically, the technologist will take two views of each breast, one from above and one from the side. The entire procedure takes about 20 minutes. Films taken at Mt. Baker Imaging are read by our specialized radiologists.
If the radiologist decides further pictures are needed, there is no need to panic. The vast majority of lumps found are non-cancerous, although it is important to find those that are so that treatment may begin as early as possible.
The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool is an interactive tool designed by scientists at the National Cancer Institute and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project to estimate a womans risk of developing invasive breast cancer.
Who Needs A Mammogram
All women should receive a mammogram by age 40 in order to establish a baseline. This baseline mammogram should be followed up every one to two years until age 49. At age 50, the American Cancer Society recommends annual exams. Younger women who have a high incidence of breast cancer in their family should set up a personal mammography/exam regimen with their doctor.
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What Is Breast Ultrasound
A breast ultrasound is a procedure that uses reflected sound waves to view and produce a picture of the internal structures of the breast. A breast ultrasound is used to determine whether a breast lump is filled with fluid, a cyst, or a solid mass. An ultrasound generally does not replace the need for a mammogram however, it is often used to further evaluate a problem seen on a mammogram.
For a breast ultrasound, a small handheld instrument called a transducer is passed back and forth over the breast. It sends out high-pitched sound waves that are reflected back to the transducer. A detector analyzes the sound waves and converts them into a picture that is displayed on a video monitor to be recorded.
A breast ultrasound test usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes. Additional time may be needed if a breast exam will be done before the ultrasound or if a biopsy is also scheduled. You may be asked to wait until a radiologist has reviewed the information.
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Society Of Breast Imaging Screening Mammography Recommendations For Women Receiving The Covid
Screening mammograms and COVID-19 vaccines are both very important for your health.
Some women who receive the COVID-19 vaccine develop swollen lymph nodes under their arm on the same side as their vaccine injection. This is the normal immune reaction to a vaccine. These swollen lymph nodes usually return to normal on their own in a few days or weeks.
Why do swollen lymph nodes matter? Breast radiologists look closely for any changes on your mammogram. Swollen lymph nodes under one arm can be seen on a mammogram and can be a rare sign of breast cancer.
What happens if there are swollen lymph nodes on my mammogram? Depending on your medical history and when you received your vaccine, the breast radiologist may recommend that you return to the breast center for an ultrasound of your underarm area and they also may recommend a follow up exam to show that the lymph nodes have returned to normal size.
When should I schedule my screening mammogram? Try to schedule your screening mammogram before your first COVID-19 vaccine dose or at least 4 weeks after your second vaccine dose. This reduces the chance that swollen lymph nodes from the vaccine will appear on your mammogram.
What if I have other breast problems? If you have any changes in your breast or underarm, such as pain or a lump, contact your medical provider. The guidelines above are only for women with no breast symptoms who are scheduled for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Nuclear Medicine Isotopes And Travel
The radiation involved in Nuclear Medicine studies is on par with other radiology procedures. The exception is that the isotopes are within our patients. The Department of Homeland Security monitors border crossings, ferries and other areas for radiation. Patients may set off their meters for a few days following an exam. We offer traveling patients a letter to document their visit with the Nuclear Medicine department.
The Radiology Technologists, CT Technologists, Sonographers, MRI Technologists, Nuclear Medicine Technologists and Imaging support staff at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center are all healthcare professionals who fill a combination of full and part-time positions. Staff holding technical and professional positions are qualified by experience, education, and federal and Washington state certifications, as detailed below. All staff members have documented evidence of orientation and competencies in their professional specialties in order to carry out their assigned job duties.
Certifications
- Imaging studies are read by one of our board-certified physicians who has advanced training in this specialized area.
- Our CT, Magnetic Resonance and Diagnostic Technologists are certified and registered with the Washington State Department of Health, as well as with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists , as Radiologic Technologists.
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Peacehealth St Joseph Cardiovascular Center And Mt Baker Imaging Partner To Offer The Most Advanced Cardiac Imaging In The Region
Submitted by PeaceHealth
PeaceHealthSt. Joseph Cardiovascular Center has partnered with Mt.Baker Imaging to provide the most advanced andcomprehensive cardiac imaging suite available in Northwest Washington.
Thispartnership means doctors have a full array of exciting technologies available,including computed topography coronary artery calcium scoring, CTangiography of the coronary arteries, CT-fractional flow reserve of thecoronary arteries, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging , planning CT for transcatheteraortic valve replacement and planning MRI for ablation therapy foratrial fibrillation.
Together,these screening, diagnosis and treatment tools help doctors see more clearlywhat kind of help a patients heart needs and how to provide it. The screenings and treatments are noninvasive and performed on anoutpatient basis, requiring no hospital stay.
Formore information about PeaceHealths advanced cardiovascular expertise andleading-edge procedures, visit peacehealth.org/hearthealth.
Mammography Now At Lynden Clinic Of Mt Baker Imaging
LYNDEN In October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Mt. Baker Imaging clinic in Lynden has a new 3D mammography machine.
The advantages of 3D mammography are:
Earlier detection of small cancers that may be hidden in a routine mammogram.
Better determination of size, shape and location of abnormalities.
Better ability to detect cancer in multiple parts of the breast.
Reduction in the number of biopsies and additional exams.
During the 3D exam, the X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast tissue. These images are reconstructed into one-millimeter sections, providing greater visibility for the radiologist to see the inside of the breast with improved detail.
3D mammography is recommended for all women who need to undergo a screening or diagnostic mammogram. No additional compression is required. 3D mammography is covered by insurance companies, but patients are encouraged to call their insurance carrier with exam code 77063 for exact benefits.
Schedule a 3D mammogram at the Mt. Baker Imaging Lynden clinic or at the Womens Diagnostic Center on Northwest Drive, Bellingham, by calling 360-647-2422.
Register for flu shot clinic
LYNDEN The Lynden Community Center is offering a drive-through flu shot clinic open to all from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
It is asked that people use this link to the center website in order to register:
CORRECTION
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Putting Your Exam Off
Often, excuses may arise in hopes of putting off having a mammogram. Lack of family risk factors, fear of the exam and fear of a positive finding are most common. The FDA reports most positive findings are not cancer, but benign tumors. Special tests such as biopsies are used to discern whether a lump is cancerous. Delaying the diagnosis of breast cancer does not change the diagnosis, it only increases your risk of a worse outcome possibly death.
What Is 3d Mammography
3D mammography is a new FDA-approved imaging technology designed for early breast cancer detection and is done along with a 2D mammogram.During the 3D part of the exam, the X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over your breast, taking multiple breast images. A computer then produces a 3D image of your breast tissue in one millimeter sections, providing greater visibility for the radiologist to see the inside of the breast in improved detail. The radiologists can scroll through the images of your entire breast like pages in a book.The additional 3D images make it possible for our radiologists to better visualize your breast tissue and to detect potential abnormalities, greatly reducing the need for follow up imaging.
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