The staff at DGMC's Women's Imaging Center is comprised of dedicated and compassionate professionals. We are dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of women throughout their lifespan.
Mammography is the process of using low-dose amplitude-X-rays to examine the human breast and is used as a diagnostic as well as a screening tool. The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer, typically through detection of characteristic masses and/or micro calcifications.
Scheduling regular Mammography screenings as part of your overall health care routine is believed to reduce the percentage of mortalities from breast cancer. The five-year survival rate following early detection of breast cancer is 98%. Although no other imaging technique has been shown to reduce risk, breast self-examination and physician examination are considered essential parts of regular breast care.
Our Services
- Breast MRI
- Breast Ultrasound
- Diagnostic Mammograms
- Needle Localization
- Screening Mammograms
- Stereotactic biopsies
- Ultra sound guided biopsies
Our Women's Imaging Center features excellent technology from GE and Holistic Mammographic Equipment. With the acquisition of the Dimension Tomographic units, we're thrilled to offer state-of-the-art digital mammography with computed aided detection to our patients. Digital mammography allows for faster screening mammography appointment times and has been shown in studies to be significantly better than film mammography in screening women who are under age 50 and women of any age who have very dense breasts.
Breast MRI is available at DGMC for high-risk patients. Despite the recent controversial screening recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, DGMC physicians continue to recommend annual mammography screenings starting at age 40. We perform approximately 375 mammograms per month with 150 additional views, 70 ultrasounds and 10 MRIs. We average 24 procedures per month, including biopsies, needle localizations, and cyst aspirations. As a result of our pro-active efforts and advanced equipment here at DGMC, our cancer detection rate as of February 2014 is 12 per 1000 screening examinations whereas the national average is two to ten per 1000 screening examinations.
A fully accredited facility by the American College of Radiology, DGMC's Women's Imaging Center coordinates and participates in a weekly multidisciplinary breast conference and works closely with patients and physicians involved in the breast care pathway.
Who should be seen in the Women's Imaging department?
Women over 40 years of age should be seen annually for a screening mammogram. Men and women should be seen if they have concerns regarding their breast(s), but must be seen by their primary care manager first. A women whose mother has had breast cancer should start their mammogram 10 years prior to their mother's or sister's diagnosis date unless it is past age 50, then they start at age 40.
How to be seen in our department:
Our services are offered to all active duty and their dependents. We have a self-request screening program for women who are not experiencing any new concerns with their breasts. We do not accept self-referrals (patients without a primary care physician) at this time. You can self-request by calling Mammography’s direct line at 707-423-7275 Mon-Fri, 0730-1630. We only schedule appointments for the next month out. If you are having issues with your breasts, i.e., breast pain/soreness, lump, nipple discharge, changes in breast shape (dimpling), skin changes or nipple inversion, the member must be seen by their PCM before women's imaging can make an appointment.