Three new digital upgrades for mammography, MRI and ultrasound make Montclair Breast Center the most state-of-the art facility for breast care. Montclair Breast Center is now 100% digital.
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(Right) Marcie B. Hertz, MD, Breast Surgeon, Monali Padwal, MD, Clinical Breast Ultrasound Applications Specialist and Nancy L. Elliott MD Director Montclair Breast Center at GE Healthcare Institute in Waukesha, WI, in early June. Drs. Hertz and Elliott were invited to a conference on Volume Ultrasound Imaging, a groundbreaking advancement to detect breast cancer. GE's Waukesha Institute is the largest training center in the world for the diagnostic imaging community. (June 2006) |
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GE Logiq 7 digital ultrasound is available in all exam rooms. It has greater sensitivity and more diagnostic technology then any other model. This sophisticated ultrasound makes it easier for a breast surgeon or breast imager performing the exam to be even more accurate.
• An even more advanced digital mammography system, the GE Senographe DS (pictured at left) with stereotactic capabilities; one machine which can perform mammography and if necessary, perform a stereotactic biopsy. Previously a patient would have to go to two different machines.
• A new dedicated breast MRI upgrade, the GE HD MR 8 channel. The upgrade is in a large new coil which required cutting into the one year old building’s MRI addition exterior wall for installation. Montclair Breast Center is the first in the area to have this kind of upgrade. During the patient’s exam it will double the data flow currently gathered which will provide better information to the physicians. There is an improved resting place for arms, head, and of course breasts to make for increased comfort during the exam.
To answer all your questions about Breast MRI click here to download a free brochure (pdf format)
Same Day Surgery
When surgery is necessary, our patients have the safety and convenience of using our fully accredited ambulatory surgery center located on the first floor. At Montclair Breast Center most surgery is performed as an out-patient procedure including excisional breast biopsies, lumpectomies and sentinel lymph node surgery.
Convenience and private care are great advantages, particularly when image-guided biopsies are required. Our breast imagers are able to localize mammographic abnormalities upstairs in the digital mammography suite and then simply send you downstairs for your surgical procedure. Our exceptional board-certified anesthesiologist always meets with you prior to your surgery to answer all your questions. Newer anesthetics eliminate the nausea and grogginess that used to accompany surgery, so patients feel well after the procedure and go home 1-2 hours after surgery. Minimally invasive techniques create substantially less pain and our patients take only Tylenol (acetaminophen) or nothing for surgical discomfort. Your surgeon is always available to speak with you and your family afterwards because her office is in the building. This facilitates communication, enhancing the doctor-patient relationship. Recovery is fast and an appointment is made for pathology review within 2 days.
The addition of on-site same day surgery completes the full array of breast diagnostic and treatment modalities making Montclair Breast Center a unique private breast hospital.
Digital Mammography
Montclair Breast Center is one of the few sites in the tri-state area to offer digital mammography with the GE Senographe 2000D system. This state-of-the-art imaging machine is the most powerful tool in the detection of breast cancer. It allows for better visibility of the breast, especially near the skin line, the chest wall and in women with varying density of breast tissue. Providing the highest quality image of the breast, digital mammography gives both doctors and patients the most information in the shortest amount of time.
Bone Density Test
In keeping with our comprehensive and multidisciplinary philosophy to serve the special needs of women, Montclair Breast Center offers Bone Density tests which check for osteoporosis. The Bone Density test is the best way to see if you have low bone density, commonly known as osteoporosis, or if you are at an increased risk for breaking a bone. This is a simple exam, also called a Dexa Scan, and measures the strength of your bones. The test is safe, painless, and noninvasive. The patient lies on a table and a small amount of radiation penetrates the hip and spine. In most cases the test takes a few minutes. Following the exam, the results will be reviewed and discussed with you. For more information please contact Sandra.
Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
We utilize the most state of the art vacuum assisted biopsy device. A Stereotactic biopsy is a welcome alternative to surgery because there is no surgical scar and it is less expensive. The vacuum assisted biopsy system is the latest technological innovation physicians can employ to obtain just the right amount of breast tissue for a definitive diagnosis-without surgery.
Here is how it works: The patient receives a small amount of local anesthesia while lying on a specialized mammography table. The biopsy probe, guided by a stereotactic digital x-ray image, is placed in the area of the breast designated as abnormal. Multiple tissue samples are removed. Since a minute skin nick is required to introduce the biopsy device, only a tiny scar will result. A physician and technologist will be with you at all times.
Our ability to sample tiny abnormalities makes early detection and accurate diagnosis easier. This form of Stereotactic biopsy uses local anesthesia, requires no sutures, causes little pain, and can be performed quickly at Montclair Breast Center.
Woman’s
Touch Mammopad™
The Woman's Touch Mammopad™ is a new, FDA-cleared foam cushion designed to provide a softer, warmer mammogram. It's a single-use, adhesive-backed foam cushion that attaches to the compression plates of the mammography device. It was developed by Stanford University breast surgeon Gale Lebovic, M.D. The MammoPad™ not only provides a soft, warm surface for breast positioning but also helps lessen skin-pulling. The MammoPad™ is "invisible" to x-rays and does not interfere with the image quality of the mammogram. Montclair Breast Center is now offering the MammoPad™ for free to all patients who come in for their mammography.
Sandra Klank, RT Mammogram Technologist, shows the new, soft disposable Mammopad to a patient. Using the Mammopad can decrease discomfort and allow for a more warm and pleasant mammography.