Some Backyards Have a Garden. Yours Has a Nationally Renowned Health System.
Terrebonne General Health System has a Women’s Imaging and Breast
Center focused on patient comfort.
The center offers bone densitometry scans, digital mammography, core breast
biopsies, Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), breast needle localizations,
ultrasound, and an array of mammography and other breast imaging techniques.
The Women’s Imaging and Breast Center is the first facility to offer
BSGI technology in the Tri-Parish and New Orleans regions. This technology
is located on the 1st floor of the Women’s Center with its own waiting
room, dressing room, and exam rooms.
Although no woman anticipates she will get breast cancer, the truth is about
1 in every 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Most breast cancer patients did not inherit the disease from their mothers;
rather, it can develop from a random genetic mutation that develops and
spreads, often beyond the breast tissue and sometimes into tissues much
further in the body. The Women’s Imaging and Breast Center is recognized
as the first comprehensive breast care center in the region. The center
is certified by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA)/Mammogram Quality Standards Act (MQSA), but
that’s not why the people who work there are most proud of it. For
them, it’s all about the patients.
Mammography
A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray used to detect breast cancer. The breast
is compressed using paddles so a technologist can get a picture of the
tissue. The picture can show abnormal cells or other signs of cancer.
Terrebonne General uses digital mammography in which the images are immediately
saved on a computer as digital images instead of being printed on film.
The benefits of digital mammography include:
It provides greater contrast for better detection of lesions.
Procedure times are faster.
It allows the technologist to enlarge an area in question.
It allows the images to be sent electronically.
To make this procedure as comfortable as possible, Terrebonne General has
invested in a product called the “mammopad.” The mammopad
is a foam cushion placed between the patient’s breast and the compression
paddle of the mammography unit. Not only does it make the machine feel
warmer, but it also allows the technologist to better position the breast
tissue for a better picture.
3D Mammography
Hologic's Selenia Dimensions 3D, or 3D mammography, provides three-dimensional
imaging technology that uses a low-dose, short X-ray sweep around the
compressed breast.
This imaging technique is designed to separate tissues and reduce the overlap
of structures, a limiting factor in standard 2D mammography. Women undergoing
tomosynthesis screening can expect a similar experience to that of traditional
2D mammography. Tomosynthesis can also be performed on women with dense
breasts, in which cancer detection can be challenging.
Contrast-Enhanced Mammography (CEM)
Contrast-Enhanced Mammography (CEM) is a new service offered at Terrebonne
General. This advanced imaging technique is used in conjunction with a
3D mammogram to provide more detailed information, particularly when a
suspicious finding has been identified on a conventional mammogram. CEM
can also help determine whether breast cancer may have spread beyond the
initial area of concern. Your physician or licensed caregiver, in collaboration
with the radiologist, will determine whether a contrast-enhanced mammogram
is appropriate and beneficial for your care
When Should I Have a Mammogram?
Quickly diagnosing cancer in its earliest stages often results in better
treatment outcomes. Mammograms are a critical tool in the early detection
of breast cancer. Women aged 40+ should have a mammogram every year. Once
a patient visits Terrebonne General’s Woman’s Imaging and
Breast Center she will receive a result letter. Reminder cards are also
mailed prompting patients to schedule their annual mammogram.
Other Types of Biopsies
Terrebonne General offers a few different options for a biopsy. Needle
localization is a type of biopsy in which a radiologist inserts a needle
into the suspicious area. The patient is then taken to surgery for her
surgeon to remove the questionable area. Another type of biopsy is a core
biopsy, when the radiologist and surgeon have determined that the suspicious
area may be removed without surgery. This entire procedure is done within
the Women’s Imaging and Breast Center. There is no anesthesia involved,
so the patient may leave right after the procedure.
Terrebonne General also offers ultrasound-guided biopsy and stereotactic
biopsy. A stereotactic-guided biopsy and/or needle localization is a procedure
using a digital stereotactic mammo-machine, which takes 2D images of the
breast tissue. It then calculates exactly where the radiologist or surgeon
should insert the biopsy needle to obtain the best tissue sample for review.
Although ultrasounds are usually associated with pregnancy, they can also
be used to help with a breast tissue biopsy. Terrebonne General has an
ultrasound technologist certified in breast ultrasonography, one of only
66 in the state.
Ultrasound
Terrebonne General’s ultrasound machine is used for more than breast
care. 3D images can provide a clear view of any suspicious area in a woman’s
body. Ultrasounds can be used to scan the pelvis, thyroid, and other parts
of the body for abnormalities. These cutting-edge imaging machines can
provide images of a developing baby or help doctors diagnose cysts and
tumors with incredible accuracy.
Bone Density with Trabecular Bone Score (TBS)
A bone density test (bone mineral density scan) measures the amount of
calcium and other minerals in your bones, helping diagnose osteoporosis,
a condition that weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures. The
test is quick, painless, and similar to an X-ray, typically taking about
10–15 minutes.
During the procedure, the patient lies on a padded table while the lumbar
spine and hips are scanned using special X-rays. In addition to standard
bone density testing, some centers offer a trabecular bone score (TBS),
which evaluates bone quality—not just quantity—giving a more
complete picture of bone health.
Screening is generally recommended for:
Women aged 65 and older
Men aged 70 and older
Individuals with a family history of osteoporosis or certain medical conditions
Many patients choose to combine this test with a mammogram during the same
visit for convenience.
Appointments are available through primary care doctors or calling Terrebonne
General at
(985) 850-6052.
There is a soft cotton robe waiting just for you.
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