For the 40 percent of women with dense breast tissue, conventional mammography can miss up to 30 percent of breast cancers. That’s why Franciscan Health Crown Point Breast Center is introducing ABUS (Automated Breast Ultrasound) as an additional screening option.
ABUS is the only FDA‐approved breast cancer screening technology for detection in women with dense breast tissue. The non-invasive exam takes approximately 15 minutes and creates clear 3D ultrasound images. An ABUS screening, along with a screening mammogram, will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the breast tissue.
Women with extremely dense breast tissue have a four to six times greater risk of developing breast cancer than women who do not, making early detection even more vital.
“Because we love our community, we wanted to make sure we catch these cancers earlier so these patients can get treatment sooner,” said Michelle Kleszynski, Director of Imaging at Franciscan Health Crown Point.
When breasts have more tissue than fat, they are considered dense breasts. On a mammogram, a suspicious lump may be masked by the dense breast tissue. As part of our mammography report, a patient is told if she has dense breasts and if she could consider an ABUS exam. While younger women tend to have more dense breasts, a sizable percentage of women in their 60s and 70s also have dense breasts.
More information about dense breasts can be found online at densebreast-info.org. Patients should contact their insurance company about coverage for ABUS screening.
For additional information, or to make an appointment, call the Franciscan Health Crown Point Breast Center at (219) 757-6010.
