NUMC’S BREAST CENTER, FIRST ON LONG ISLAND AND ONE OF ONLY HANDFUL IN US, TO ACQUIRE GROUND BREAKING TOMOSYNTHESIS 3D TO COMPLEMENT ITS STATE-OF-THE-ART DIAGNOSTIC TECHNOLOGY IN WOMEN’S IMAGING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2011

PRESS CONTACT:
Shelley Lotenberg
shelley@numc.edu
516-572-6055

NUMC’S BREAST CENTER, FIRST ON LONG ISLAND AND ONE OF ONLY HANDFUL IN US, TO ACQUIRE GROUND BREAKING TOMOSYNTHESIS 3D TO COMPLEMENT ITS STATE-OF-THE-ART DIAGNOSTIC TECHNOLOGY IN WOMEN’S IMAGING

TOMOSYNTHESIS 3D HOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES RADIOLOGISTS’ ABILITY TO SCREEN AND DETECT POTENTIAL BREAST CANCERS, HELPING TO PINPOINT SIZE, SHAPE AND LOCATION OF ABNORMALITIES THROUGH CLEARER VIEW THROUGH THE OVERLAPPING STRUCTURES OF BREAST TISSUE

East Meadow, NY… Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the NuHealth System, announces the acquisition of 3D Tomosynthesis Mammography System, complementing the state-of-the-art diagnostic technology in women’s imaging at the Nassau University Medical Center’s National Mah Jongg League Foundation Breast Center.

“We are proud to be the first on Long Island and one of only a handful in the United States to acquire the Tomosynthesis 3D Hologic System to complement our recently installed full field digital mammography technology, delivering exceptionally sharp images for visualization of the finest details and enhancing our ability to detect breast cancer at an early stage, when it is most treatable,” said Gianelli. “Tomosynthesis was just approved this past February by the FDA after 10 years of extensive research, and this technology is so cutting-edge that the first clinical tomosynthesis exam in the United States was just conducted on March 7th.”

Tomosynthesis is complementary to a standard mammography, which at this point remains the “gold standard” for breast cancer detection.  It is performed along with a standard mammogram, at the same time and on the same scanner.  However, experts anticipate that tomosynthesis will eventually replace standard mammograms as the standard of care.  Tomosynthesis is a revolutionary technology that gives radiologists the ability to identify and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of overlapping tissue. During a tomosynthesis scan, multiple, low-dose images of the breast are acquired at different angles. These images are then used to produce a series of one-millimeter thick slices that can be viewed as a three dimensional reconstruction of the breast. Instead of viewing all tissue complexities superimposed as they are on a traditional 2D mammogram, the radiologist can now scroll through the layers of the breast in one-millimeter thick slices. Reviewing breast tissue slice by slice removes the confusion of superimposed tissue allowing the radiologist to view a mammogram in a way never before possible.

Victor Scarmato, MD, chair of the radiology department at NUMC, added: “We are pleased to be the first on Long Island to offer this new modality to our female patients, complementing our stereotactic, digital, MRI and breast ultra sonography equipment, demonstrating our continued commitment to improving our ability to screen and detect potential breast cancers in women. This sophisticated technology will help our radiologists pinpoint the size, shape and location of abnormalities, assisting in distinguishing harmless abnormalities from real tumors, leading to fewer call backs and less anxiety for women.”

“The enhanced comprehensive screening program at the National Mah Jongg League Foundation Breast Center at NUMC, provides a full complement of screening services and treatment options to approximately 90% of the uninsured women in Nassau County, and has performed over 95,000 mammography studies. The program remains one of the largest of its type in New York State, and the largest provider of mammography services to uninsured and underinsured women in all of Nassau County,” stated Chris Mancuso, RN, breast center coordinator.

Steven J. Walerstein, executive vice president of medical affairs and medical director at the NuHealth System, joined in congratulating staff on their latest technology equipment, “By offering the latest technology in women’s health screening, NUMC hopes to increase the number of area women who would be routinely screened. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Statistics indicate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her life. The stage at which breast cancer is detected influences a woman’s chance of survival. If detected early, the five-year survival rate is 97 percent.”

NUMC is committed to the fight against breast cancer. In offering a comprehensive women’s health imaging center, with all new and the latest in screening equipment, NUMC provides the latest in imaging quality. This center, with all the new equipment will help further our commitment to bridging the divide between the types of services available to all women,” concluded Gianelli.

If you would like to schedule a mammogram or have questions about this important breast health procedure, please contact the NUMC Breast Center at (516) 572-6635.

ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life.  Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community.  By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.

For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.