Breast Cancer Awareness Month- Contrast Enhanced Mammography
October is breast cancer awareness month, as breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. In fact, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime. Ackerman Cancer Center is proud to be the first and only comprehensive breast center in Northeast Florida to offer Contrast-Enhanced Mammography (CEM), a diagnostic procedure that is especially beneficial to women with dense breasts or who are at high risk of breast cancer.
Dr. Gaelyn Scuderi, Diagnostic Radiologist and Director of Imaging at Ackerman Cancer Center, spoke with Melissa Ross on WJCT and discussed the benefits of and qualifications needed for patients to get CEM.
What is Contrast-Enhanced Mammography?
CEM is a new cutting-edge technology, offered at our Northeast Florida clinic, which permits evaluation of breast tissue for signs of early breast cancer, with a high degree of sensitivity. CEM has been shown to be significantly more sensitive to early breast cancer detection than traditional 2D or 3D mammography, more sensitive than breast ultrasound, and has a sensitivity and specificity similar to breast MRI.
CEM is similar to a traditional mammogram, but delivers higher sensitivity by utilizing a contrast-dye medium, which is a substance that is injected into the bloodstream and highlights any abnormalities in the breast tissue.
Patients that qualify for Contrast-Enhanced Mammography will need a referral from their physician. Qualifications include having dense breast tissue or a high risk for breast cancer, personal and/or family history of cancer, and palpable breast lumps. Speak with your healthcare provider to see which mammography option is right for you.
While CEM is a breakthrough for women at higher risk and with dense breast tissue, 2D or 3D mammograms are still imperative in early breast cancer detection.
Click below to listen to the full interview with Dr. Gaelyn Scuderi and Melissa Ross.