Mammography Machine at the Community Hospital Offers Most Accurate Readings Available

The Community Hospital in Munster, Ind., is leading the fight to detect breast cancer at its earliest stages with a new high-tech mammogram system.

The Mammomat 3000 provides the most accurate breast screenings and biopsies now available while emitting the lowest possible radiation dose during the mammogram.

"With this machine, we can see the tiniest of calcifications. The definition and detail on the film are extremely clear," said Sue Boulden, director of Therapeutic and Diagnostic Radiology at Community Hospital.

The high-quality images allow physicians to quickly diagnose abnormalities too small to be felt and those that may be missed with less modern test methods. Early detection of breast cancer can raise the survival rate of individuals to 90 percent.

The system's increased options allow test techniques to be tailored to each individual, optimizing picture quality and reducing the amount of radiation to the minimum level necessary, based on individual breast characteristics. An interactive generator lets the operator program exposure parameters according to Community Hospital's imaging preferences. The system automatically registers exposures best for each patient, reducing the need for retakes.

Patient discomfort during the test may be minimized through an automated compression system. The system determines the level of pressure needed for uniform tautness with as little tension as possible on the breast. The new mammography units also facilitate angled views of the breast, adjusting quickly and easily for each patient.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women 40 to 44 years of age and our country's biggest cancer killer of women. A mammogram can locate breast cancer even before a lump can be felt.