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Every state-of-the-art diagnostic
testing procedure for early detection is available at
the EEH Center, so patients don't have to go to other
locations for their tests. Not only is this convenient,
but it provides a measure of extra assurance because
each patient's care is completely planned and monitored
by a team who knows her and her medical history.
Tests are conducted in a comfortable,
attractive environment, separate from the treatment
and research areas of the facility to put patients at
ease. Results are explained thoroughly while the patient
is still in the Clinic. If treatment is needed, a patient
will usually know her options before leaving the Clinic
on the day of her tests. Therefore the anxiety caused
by waiting for the mammography report and recalls for
repeat mammography do not occur at the EEH Center.
Diagnostic procedures used by
the EEH Center include:
- Mammography
- the Center offers mammography with both standard
low-dose and digital mammography equipment. A baseline
mammogram is recommended at age 35 for all women,
earlier if the patient has a family history of breast
cancer.
- Thermography
- an imaging test that shows the heat pattern of the
breasts. When this pattern is abnormal the patient
is at increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Patients presenting with breast cancer who have an
abnormal breast infrared image have poorer prognosis
and therefore often require more intense adjuvant
therapy. Infrared imaging is also used to follow a
patient's response to treatment.
- Ultrasound -
useful in determining the nature of a mass, whether
it is a cyst or tumor and can assist with the biopsy
of abnormal lesions.
- Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
- a minimally invasive procedure that can in most
cases be delivered on an outpatient basis. This procedure
uses x-ray to identify the location of the breast
lesion and then to guide a biopsy needle to extract
a small sample of tissue to be studied. This procedure
can often replace the far more invasive open surgical
biopsy. In addition the procedure is performed
at the Clinic by the Surgical Team, which was one
of the first to introduce stereotactic core needle
biopsy into the United States.
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