Why does mammography miss cancers in dense breasts?
Mammograms use X-ray to image the breast. Both cancer and dense tissue appear white on an X-ray, which makes it difficult to detect cancer in women with dense breasts using mammography.
How does SoftVue™ differ from mammography?
SoftVue™ does not use X-ray to image the breast. SoftVue™ is based on ultrasound technology, meaning it operates with the same kind of harmless soundwaves used to image babies in pregnant women. Cancers are easier to detect on ultrasound because sound can move through dense tissue to detect cancer blocked by dense tissue on an X-ray.
In fact, SoftVue™ has proven to detect 20 percent more cancers when combined with standard mammography for women with dense breasts.
In addition, rather than just having one type of image to review for possible cancers, SoftVue offers four different image sets of each breast that radiologists can use to determine if cancer is present. That is four times the imaging power, giving radiologists more diagnostic confidence compared than reviewing mammography alone.
The SoftVue™ Experience – No Compression or Radiation
The SoftVue™ experience is easy and comfortable, with no compression or radiation and can be performed on the same day as your mammogram, saving time and hassle.
SoftVue™ uses an imaging ring that surrounds the breast while it is immersed in warm water. The imaging ring emits sound waves that travel through and around the breast, capturing images every 2 millimeters as it moves from the nipple to the chest wall.
If you have dense breasts and would like to schedule your SoftVue™ exam with your routine mammogram, please call 1-800-KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266) or request an appointment online below.
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