Digital Mammography
Click here for Southcoast breast health services
Southcoast Hospitals has expanded its health and wellness services available to women with the addition of a new digital mammography system.
Digital mammography allows us to provide you with the highest quality of care in the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.
Unlike other parts of the body, the breast is composed mainly of soft tissue. When breast tissue is X-rayed, it creates an image that looks something like a smoky haze, making it difficult to see tiny "spots," called microcalcifications, and other subtle signs of early cancer.
With digital mammography, the radiologist reviews electronic images of the breast using special high-resolution monitors. The physician can adjust the brightness, change contrast and zoom in for close ups of specific areas of interest.
Being able to manipulate images is one of the main benefits of digital technology. Another convenience of digital mammography over film-based systems is it can greatly reduce the need for retakes due to over or under exposure, reducing your exposure to X-rays.
Digital mammography feels identical to conventional screening from a patient's perspective, though women may notice shorter exam times and a reduction in call-backs to obtain additional images.
Like their conventional units, digital mammography units at Southcoast have Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) technology built right in. Digital CAD highlights characteristics commonly associated with breast cancer. When activated, it flags abnormalities to help the radiologist detect early breast cancer. CAD is, in essence, a second set of eyes to support and enhance the radiologist's judgment.
Southcoast will have digital mammography at all sites where mammograms are offered by January 2008, making it the largest digital system in the South Coast region. Women from Wareham, New Bedford, Fall River and all surrounding areas will have access to this technology.
Mammography Locations
Center for Women's Health
300-B Faunce Corner Road
North Dartmouth, MA
508-998-0600
Digital mammography, breast ultrasound, stereotactic biopsies, and breast MRI (performed at St. Luke's).
Charlton Memorial Hospital
363 Highland Avenue
Fall River, MA
508-679-3131 Ext. 7117
Digital mammography, breast ultrasound, and stereotactic biopsies.
Tobey Hospital
43 High Street
Wareham, MA
508-273-4141
Digital mammography, breast ultrasound, stereotactic biopsies, and breast MR.
St. Luke's Hospital Radiology Department
101 Page Street
New Bedford, MA
508-997-1515 Ext. 2844
Digital mammography, breast ultrasound, and breast MR.
Other Fall River locations
Borden Building
300 Hanover Street
Fall River, MA
508-679-7549
Digital mammography.
Naragansett Mill
1565 North Main Street
Fall River, MA
508-679-1141
Digital Mammography.
New Boston Medical Center
373 New Boston Road
Fall River, MA
508-679-0911
Digital Mammography.
Truesdale Clinic
1030 President Avenue
Fall River, MA
508-679-7392
Digital mammography, breast ultrasound, and stereotactic biopsies (performed at Charlton).
Other New Bedford locations
Greater New Bedford Community Health Center
874 Purchase Street
New Bedford, MA
508-992-6553
Digital mammography.
Accreditations
- American College of Radiology in Breast Ultrasound, OB, Gynecological, General, and Vascular Ultrasound.
- American College of Radiology in Computed Tomography.
- American College of Radiology in Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
- American College of Radiology in Mammography.
- Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) Certified in Mammography.
- Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) for all Radiology Imaging Services.
Contact Us
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Phone: 508-679-7161
