NEWS: New Imaging Technology Bolsters Breast Cancer Detection in Young Women with Dense Tissue
by Dr. Jocelyn Medina
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the director of Mission Hospital’s imaging center shared critical information about new technology and guidelines urging women with dense breast tissue to be screened at a younger age.
The new guidelines issued this past summer said women with dense breast tissue and women with family histories should begin screenings as early as 25.
This is how the enhanced mammography works.
"The way that the contrast works and this is with contrast-enhanced or MRI, they both use a dye, and the reason it helps us see breast cancers better is because if there is a cancer in the breast it is more likely to take up the dye that comes into the vein," Dr. Jocelyn Medina said.
Contrast-enhanced studies that include MRI mammograms have a significantly higher detection rate for breast cancer.
Doctors say even if there’s out of pocket expense women should consider paying for the more sensitive screenings.
Doctors can help you navigate pre-certification to see if your insurance can cover the more sensitive screenings.