My name is Michael Masone, R.T. (R) (M) (MR) (S), RDMS. I am the Director of Operations at Capital Imaging Associates and am a certified technologist in Radiography, Mammography and MRI as well as holding a dual certification in Ultrasonography.
The purpose of this blog is to create a public forum to post and share information and hopefully answer your questions about medical imaging studies.
In the way of background information, Capital Imaging Associates was the first freestanding imaging center and has been providing medical imaging services to the capital district since 1985. As the first, we brought magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the upstate New York region and many of our staff members are celebrating their 25th anniversary with us. Our team was instrumental in educating referring physician offices and the community on the benefits and safety concerns of MRI scanning. In addition, we provided vital information on the uses and medical necessity of MRI to the insurance companies, facilitating payment for this service on behalf of our patients.
Some of the questions we have been asked over the years include
· Why did my doctor order this exam versus another?
· Why does my insurance company now require prior approval for my exam?
· What is the National Imaging Association (NIA) and why does it have control over my imaging procedure?
· Are there any harmful effects from having an MRI exam?
· How much radiation is there in a DXA scan?
· What makes me at high risk for breast cancer?
· When should I start my screening mammogram tests?
With two and a half decades of experience to draw upon, we feel we can be a valuable resource and hope you will use us as your reference site for medical imaging procedures.
The following article, which was published in the March/April Journal of The American Society of Radiologic Technologists, addresses radiation dosage with digital mammography.
The American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) recently announced results of a study comparing full-field DIGITAL mammography (FFDM) with film-screen mammography. Researchers compiled data on 5102 patients at 33 sites who were participants in the Digital Mammography Imaging Screening Trial (DMIST).
Differences in compression force and compressed breast thicknesses were minor between FFDM and Film-Screen mammography. Although 21% of FFDM cases required more than 4 views compared with 12% of the film-screen cases, mean glandular dose per patient was 17% lower for those undergoing FFDM than film-screen mammography. Results of the ACRIN DMIST study comparing acquisition parameters and breast dose appeared in the February 2010 issue of AMERICAN JOURNAL of ROENTGENOLOGY.
This is great news for patients who utilize digital mammography technology, but even more so for patients who have their mammograms done at Capital Imaging Associates. Here’s why …
The study, which was originally published in the February 2010 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology, reported that digital mammography not only improved the image quality of the mammogram, but it also DECREASED the amount of radiation the patient received, even though 21% of patients receiving full field digital mammography required more than four views per exam. This is because first generation digital mammography units had a relatively small surface to place the breast on. As a result, even some average-sized patients required more than two images per side in order to capture the entire breast on one exam. The newer digital mammography units, such as the one here at Capital Imaging, have a surface almost twice the size of the earlier units which decreases the images needed to capture the breast in most cases. While 21% of patients needed additional images in that study, our experience has been less than 2% of patients require more than four images per exam, thus decreasing the amount of radiation even more.
In addition to less radiation exposure to our patients, our technology incorporates biofeedback elements which enable us to provide our patients with a more comfortable experience. You can read more about this on our website under the mammography tab.
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog. We hope this has been helpful to you and that you will keep tuned in for more in-depth articles. Your specific questions can be posted on our Facebook page or, if you prefer privacy, you can contact us through our website at http://www.capimaging.com
1001 Loudon Road Latham, NY 12110, (518) 785-7373. Capital Imaging...Your Body, Your Health, Your Choice!
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