3D Mammography 

Detects 41% more invasive breast cancers

Speare Memorial Hospital is excited to offer Genius™ 3D Mammography™, a breakthrough in the early detection of breast cancer.

“Early breast cancer detection saves lives for women screened annually, beginning at age 40,” says Rebecca Zuurbier, MD, Director of Breast Imaging at Speare Memorial Hospital and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. “Advanced 3-D tomosynthesis mammography, like that now available at Speare, is a significant technological leap forward in this process because important breast cancers can be found even earlier. This saves lives while helping women avoid disfiguring surgeries and debilitating chemotherapy treatments. This technology detects 41% more invasive breast cancers and results in fewer recalls for additional views from screening mammograms, compared to 2D mammography.”

In conventional 2D mammography, overlapping tissue is a leading reason why small breast cancers may be missed and normal tissue may appear abnormal, leading to unnecessary callbacks. A Genius exam at Speare includes a three-dimensional method of imaging that can greatly reduce the tissue overlap effect.

Speare’s mammograms now include both 2D images and 3D tomosynthesis scans. During the tomosynthesis-DIMENSIONAL portion of the exam, an X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple images. A computer then converts the images into a stack of thin layers, allowing Dr. Zuurbier to review the breast tissue one layer at a time. The exam requires no additional compression and takes just a few seconds longer than a conventional 2D breast cancer screening exam.

Speare Memorial Hospital has a dedicated and experienced team of mammography staff. Appointments can be made from 8am to 4 pm Monday through Friday. Late afternoon appointments are also available.

Speare Memorial Hospital —a 24-hour, acute care, non-profit community hospital and health care provider serving Plymouth and the communities of central New Hampshire—is nationally ranked as a HealthStrong^TM: Top 100 Critical Access Hospital and a Becker’s Top 50 Critical Access Hospitals to know in 2016. Visit online at https://spearehospital.com and join us on Facebook and Twitter.