New mammogram

The new digital mammography equipment at Odessa Regional Medical Center won’t prevent women from having their breasts compressed.

“There’s not a procedure you can do today without compression to get an accurate reading for a screening mammogram,” Rosella Quiroz, Odessa Regional’s breast care center supervisor, said.

But she said the new Hologic Lorad Selenia, which cost more than $400,000, would provide more comfort — though using just as much, or even more compression, on the breast.

“The more compression, the better the picture,” she said.

The new system, which went into operation Friday, uses a tilted paddle, which Quiroz said is more comfortable because of its shape. It also allows patients to control compression themselves.

“It gives them a little more control over the exam,” she said. “And 70 percent of the time, the patient will compress more than we will.”

But, perhaps more relevant, are the results the machine produces. Quiroz said the high-resolution Selenia, the first in the Permian Basin, could pick up denser tissue, which appeared white on the older, film machines.

“With the digital machine, a lot of patients considered dense are actually average,” she said.

Laura Mathew, a five-year breast cancer survivor, has made trips to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for checkups because she has such dense tissue.

“At this point, women in this area haven’t had that opportunity,” Mathew said. “Five-and-a-half years ago, if I had digital mammography, it’s possible the cancer in my breast would have been picked up earlier.”

Mathew, also the Ector County Independent School District’s health services director, said digital mammography isn’t necessary for all women, “but, if you need that, it could be a lifesaver.”

A digital mammogram also has a much quicker turnaround time. Quiroz said. While it previously took up to two weeks to review a mammogram, the hospital’s technicians are now reviewing them the next day.

“It’s our goal to get the results out to patients in three days,” she said.

The results are easier to read than a film mammogram, Quiroz said. Radiologists can change the darkness or size of the image, making it easier to determine if a return visit would be needed.

“It’s not going to eliminate call backs, but it will cut down on the amount of times they have to come back,” she said.

Sarah Henderson, a clinical specialist for Hologic who travels to different hospitals to show technicians how to use the equipment, said everyone seems to look forward to it.

“That’s what the whole benefit of digital is,” Henderson said. “The image quality is so much better. They are going to get a better quality exam for early detection.”

So far, the equipment is a hit with patients, said Quiroz, who’s been a technician for nine years.

“They’re getting more compression, but they’re saying it’s a more comfortable procedure,” she said.

>> All women older than 40 should get a yearly mammogram.

>> Women with a family history of breast cancer or other health concerns should start getting mammograms at 30.