Digital mammography introduced at Heywood

Hospital says it will improve patient diagnosis, shorten exam times

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — Heywood Hospital’s recent implementation of digital mammography now offers women who check into the hospital for mammograms the latest diagnostic technology available to them. According to David Woodford, director for imaging and cardiopulmonary services, the installation of the new equipment will allow Heywood’s staff to offer the best possible care for their patients. “One in eight women will get breast cancer sometime during her lifetime, and early detection is the best protection,” said Mr. Woodford. “We are very excited to offer the newest technology to our breast cancer patients.” The installation of the new equipment completed a two-year effort to convert its screening rooms to an all-digital format, something Mr. Woodford said will help take Heywood in the right direction. “We here at Heywood Hospital have been focusing on bringing in new technology for the last couple of years,” said Mr. Woodford. “In the radiation department we have gone completely digital over the last two years. As of now, we no longer use film unless we print a digital image and we have no more darkrooms.” Recent advancements in digital mammography allow radiologists to magnify images on a computer screen, adjust brightness and contrast, and manipulate the images to differentiate normal tissue from abnormal tissue, according to Mr. Woodford. “You can do more with a digital photo. You can manipulate the image, whereas with film you kind of got what you got,” said Mr. Woodford. “With digital mammography we can manipulate these images to extenuate specific details, we can magnify parts of the breast and we can focus on a specific spot.” The new technology will likely help younger women, said Mr. Woodford, because it is in younger women that denser breast tissue can obstruct the clarity of some of these images. “This gives us the ability to see the detail in the anatomic structure of the breast and women who are older, who are post-menopausal will have more fat tissue in their breasts and that makes it easier to see specific structures,” said Mr. Woodford. Another benefit patients can expect will be shorter exam times, according to Supervisor of Mammography Ellen DeAngelis. “Digital mammography still uses compression and X-rays to obtain images, just as film-screen mammography does,” said Ms. DeAngelis. “but patients often notice shorter exam times.” Ms. DeAngelis added that it is largely a result of the physician’s ability to review the fresh image right there in the examination rooms. Mr. Woodford said the switch over to digital mammography is going to keep Heywood on track with other medical care providers across the state, something he said they have focused on a great deal. “In Massachusetts this is definitely the way to go in our competitive environment,” said Mr. Woodford. “We are just trying to bring the very best technology to Gardner and to our patients.” oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 8/6/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 185)