At UAB Medical West we are committed to giving patients the most advanced technologies available today. That's why we have recently added the Senography Essential® digital mammography system and the Optima CT660® from General Electric to our list of specialized technology. In addition, both areas have been completely renovated with new floors, decor, and updated exam rooms.
Senographe Essential® Digital Mammography
The Senographe Essential full-field digital system is designed to perform high-quality mammograms. It performs a wide variety of breast procedures including screenings, diagnostics, interventions. Between this new technology and our newly-renovated facility, patients can expect to receive the highest quality of comfort and care.
What is the difference between traditional and digital mammography?
Traditional mammography uses low-dose X-rays that pass through breast tissue onto photographic film. Digital mammography also uses low-dose X-rays and is read digitally on a computer.
There are several advantages to digital mammography but perhaps the most noted is its ability to allow for faster and more accurate stereotactic biopsy, which in turn results in shorter examination times and significantly improved patient comfort and convenience. Other advantages include include images that can be more easily adjusted to improve the contrast of normal and abnormal breast tissue, magnified for closer inspection, and more conveniently stored facilitating comparisons over time. Digital mammography also provides more accurate results on younger women and women with denser breast tissue.
Optima660® Low Dose Radiation CT Scanner
This highly advanced 64 slice CT Scanner provides diagnostic accuracy at a significantly lower dose of radiation than traditional scanners. Patients can benefit from the more comfortable design and shorter breath holds needed for this machine. In addition to patient comfort, the GE Optima CT660 system provides:
• ASiR low dose technologies
•High-resolution images
• Sub-millimeter slice thickness
• Cardiac evaluation
What is a CT Scan?
CT is an abbreviation for computed tomography – a valuable diagnostic medical exam that combines X-rays and computers. Often called CAT scans, CT scans have been performed successfully for almost 30 years. A CT scan gives the radiologist a non-invasive way to see inside your body. Using a computer, these 2-D images can be presented as 3-D pictures for in-depth clinical evaluations
Why would I need a CT Scan?
CT exams are performed when people are ill or injured, or when a doctor suspects a medical problem that cannot be detected easily with a routine physical examination. CT is also used to rapidly obtain specific diagnostic information that hasn’t been provided by other imaging technologies, such as ultrasound, traditional X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).