New 3D Mammograms Available at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville

Patients at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville now have access to the newest, state-of the-art breast imaging, thanks to a newly installed 3D mammography imaging machine.

Patients will also have access soon to expanded imaging services at the new Women’s Center, which is set to open in the next few months.

3D imaging allows for detection of potentially cancerous cells in the breast at the microscopic level, providing a superior image compared to older 2D imaging.

“Recent focus has been on women with denser breast tissue and the associated difficulty of getting quality images without sacrificing any of the other detail,” said Kevin Seitz, director of imaging services at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville. “3D imaging gives us a much better opportunity to identify those microcalcifications and potential problem areas better than older imaging equipment,” Seitz said that he is seeing 20 patients a day receiving mammograms and expects to do close to 300 this month, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The acquisition of the new 3D machine was made possible by a generous gift from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation.

Seitz said the increase in mammograms is a good sign because with breast cancer, early detection is the key.

“We know that mammograms save lives,” he said. “With the new technology we have, we can detect up to 60% more invasive breast cancers than we could with the older, traditional 2D.”

The new 3D imaging at the hospital is just a preview of a more expansive effort into women’s health, as the hospital will soon be opening its new Women’s Center, which will expand imaging services to include diagnostic imaging and studies, more breast ultrasound capabilities and bone density testing.

“Our new Women’s Center will have a very spa-like atmosphere,” said Barry Lofquist, administrator, CHRISTUS Mother France Hospital – Jacksonville. “The new center will continue our mission of being a leading partner and advocate for innovative health in our community.”

Seitz says the new Women’s Center will greatly cut down the need to travel out of town for advanced imaging and will reduce wait times for those needing mammograms or other imaging.

“The growth of our program has been incredible,” Seitz said. “The new technology, the new Women’s Center, our staff. We have built something here that we are all very proud of and something the community can be proud of.”