July 9, 2019

Harrington Now Offers 3-D Mammography at its Three Main Locations

SOUTHBRIDGE, MA – Harrington has announced it can now offer 3-D mammograms at its main locations in Charlton, Southbridge and Webster.

The healthcare system previously announced the arrival of 3-D mammography at its Southbridge campus in 2017. Now, patients can receive the benefit of the advanced mammography detection screening tool at 10 N. Main Street, Charlton and 340 Thompson Road, Webster, as well. In total, four 3-D units have been installed and replace the previous conventional 2-D machines.

3-D Mammography uses advanced breast tomosynthesis technology, clinically proven to significantly improve the detection of breast cancers, while simultaneously reducing the need to return for additional testing.

In conventional 2-D mammography, overlapping dense breast tissue is the leading reason why small breast cancers may be missed and normal tissue may appear abnormal, leading to unnecessary callbacks. A 3-D exam includes a three-dimensional method of imaging that can greatly reduce the tissue overlap effect, Dingui said.

During the tomosynthesis-dimensional portion of the exam, an X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple images. A computer then converts the images into a stack of thin layers, allowing the radiologist to review the breast tissue one layer at a time. A 3-D exam requires no additional compression and takes just a few seconds longer than a conventional 2-D breast cancer screening exam.

With pain being the number one complaint during mammograms, the new SmartCurve paddle is clinically proven to deliver a more comfortable mammogram compared to standard compression. The curved design of the compression device mirrors the shape of a woman’s breast to reduce pinching and applies uniform compression over the entire breast for added comfort.

“Compression is still necessary to reduce radiation exposure, make sure patient holds still and to allow better detail to be seen by the radiologist,” said, Dr. Baum.

As with all adult imaging studies taken at any of Harrington’s locations, mammogram results are read and interpreted by Harvard Medical Faculty trained radiologists from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), who are on-site at Harrington’s facilities.

To schedule your annual exam, call Central Scheduling at (508) 765-3020. If you have questions about your annual mammogram, talk to your primary care physician.

Harrington HealthCare System is a comprehensive regional healthcare system serving more than 25 communities across south central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut. The system includes Harrington Hospital in Southbridge, Harrington HealthCare at Webster and three additional major medical office buildings: Harrington HealthCare at Charlton, Harrington HealthCare at 169, also in Charlton, and Harrington HealthCare at Spencer; Harrington Physician Services, our primary care and multi-specialty physician group; UrgentCare Express at Harrington in Charlton and Oxford; The Cancer Center at Harrington in Southbridge, and the region’s largest Behavioral Health programs for mental health and substance use.