At Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, our Imaging team delivers advanced, compassionate care with a focus on early detection. Highly trained, our technologists and radiologist use the latest imaging technologies—including the new Automated Breast Ultrasound System —to improve breast cancer detection, particularly in women with dense breast tissue.
Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) is the first FDA-approved ultrasound screening technology specifically designed for women with dense breast tissue.
Automated Breast Ultrasound specifically helps doctors find cancers hidden in dense breast tissue which may be missed by mammography. If you have dense breast tissue, like 40% of women, the addition of ABUS screening when used with mammography has demonstrated a 35% increase in cancer detection compared to mammography alone.
Unlike 2D or 3D mammography, which uses radiation, Automated Breast Ultrasound uses sound waves to create 3D pictures of the breast tissue. This screening along with a traditional screening mammogram helps provide a more complete evaluation of dense breast tissue.
Breasts are made of fat and breast tissue. A breast with more tissue than fat is considered dense. Breast density is determined by the radiologist who reads your mammogram. There are four density categories. A, B, C, and D. The categories C and D are considered dense. Ask your doctor what your density is. Every woman should know her breast density and her options.
On a mammogram, dense tissue and masses both appear white, so a suspicious lump may be hidden in dense tissue. When dense tissue is scanned with ultrasound, tissue appears white and masses appear black making them easier to see. Having dense breast tissue may also increase the risk of developing breast cancer 4–6 times.
Dense breast tissue is completely normal, and for these women, mammograms alone may not be enough to detect breast cancer.
Mammograms remain the best tool for detecting early signs of breast cancer, often before symptoms appear. They provide vital information for the most accurate and complete breast care. For women with dense breast tissue, screening mammogram and diagnostic automatic breast ultrasound offer a more accurate and comprehensive image of breast health.
Call your provider to ask if this screening is right for you and to schedule your exam.