The Greene County Medical Center Imaging Department recently began operating a new piece of technology to help with breast exams.

The 3D mammography machine is up and running. Director of Imaging Jennifer Miller says there are several benefits to using 3D technology versus 2D technology.

“All of the fibrous tissues lie on each other and make it look like something that we normally couldn’t tell if it was tissues lying on top of each other. And the 3D technology are able to lay those out to see if there is something actually there or if it’s just dense tissue.”

Other benefits include: reducing the number of times a patient has to come back for screenings, 3D Mammograms can detect 41-percent more breast cancer cases than before, and it allows patients to stay in Greene County rather than traveling outside of the county to get it done. Imaging Technologist Heather Booth talks about how the GE Pristina machine makes for a better patient-care experience.

“The detector plate, where the breast sits during the imaging, the corners are rounded so it doesn’t poke into that armpit as much. The face shield, that prevents the patient’s face from being in the image, is curved so it actually allows that patient to get in closer so we pull in more of the posterior breast tissue or the back tissue back towards the chest wall. We’re actually getting more breast tissue in and keeping the exam comfortable.”

The equipment cost $350,000, which the hospital has done extensive fundraising for and continues to conduct this year. In fact, the Greene County Medical Center Foundation Annual Golf Outing will contribute all proceeds toward the fundraising effort.

Miller adds that if patients need a 3D mammogram done and if insurance won’t cover it, they will still do the procedure. Patients don’t need to have a physician’s referral in order to schedule one as an annual exam. To schedule an exam, call them at 386-0443.