Technology

Digital Mammography

Digital mammography provides patients with the highest quality of care in the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.

Digital mammography allows the radiologist to view the x-ray image more closely zeroing in on suspicious or concerning areas, enabling them to make immediate decision about additional images. Digital mammography takes less than half the time of traditional film-based exams and the radiologist may review the images while the patient is in the examination room.
 

 

"By combining the region's BEST state of the art equipment with the region's most dedicated and compassionate breast care team, we will provide our patients the best chance of early detection of breast cancer," says Betty Meyer, Director of Sanford Clinic–Breast & Bone Health Institute.

"We are grateful for Dr. Tom Cink's leadership as the region's ONLY fellowship-trained breast radiologist to provide exemplary expertise."

CAD

In conjunction with the digital mammography unit, Sanford Clinic – Breast & Bone Health Institute is also offering Computer-Aided Detection. CAD provides a "second read" of the mammogram by a computer. This assists the radiologist in making an accurate diagnosis, similar to spell check in word processing.

3 Tesla Breast MRI

Sanford Breast Health Institute is committed to providing women the highest quality of care anywhere. That’s why we offer patients 3T Breast MRI, the most advanced imaging technology available for the detection of breast cancer. For women with a high risk of developing breast cancer a 3T Breast MRI can identify breast abnormalities while they are still too small to be see by other diagnostic methods. For those already diagnosed with the disease, a 3T Breast MRI can guide treatment decisions and confirm the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

3T Breast MRI is not a replacement for mammography. It is recognized as a supplemental tool for detecting and staging breast cancer or other breast abnormalities. The American Cancer Society recommends 3T Breast MRI exams, in addition to mammography, for women with a high risk of developing breast cancer, or those already diagnosed with the disease.

Ask your doctor if a Breast MRI is right for you.

Robotic Assisted Surgery

Surgical cancer care improves with the implementation of robotic-assisted surgery. Robotic assisted surgery can provide numerous benefits to patients over open surgery including:

• Reduced trauma to the body
• Reduced post-operative pain
• Less blood loss and need for transfusions
• Less risk of infection
• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster recovery and return to normal daily activities
• Less scarring

The da Vinci Surgical System uses four robotic arms to assist and enhance the surgeon’s precise touch. The operation is performed through incisions no wider than a finger. A pencil-sized cameral held by one of the robotic arms is inserted through an incision to provide highly magnified 3-dimentinal image of the surgical site. The remote-controlled instruments can be used in hard to reach areas and turned in ways that would be impossible with normal wrist dexterity. These advantages allow the surgeon to work on a smaller scale with increased precision contributing to the positive benefits for the patient.

Lung/Thoracic Tumor Clinic

When a lung or thoracic tumor is suspected patients will be directed towards a comprehensive multidisciplinary, one day clinic. The clinic provides patients with a diagnosis, treatment option, a plan of care, and counseling with are conducted by a team of expert physicians and clinicians during the same visit.

Novalis

• One of the most innovative and advanced treatment options available in the Midwest
• Sanford Health is one of only a handful in the nation to offer this technology or the entire body
• May be used on tumors, benign or malignant, that are considered inoperable
• May be an alternative or complement to surgical treatment
• Relatively non-invasive procedure
• Delivers a precise dose of high energy radiation
• Incredible degree of accuracy
• Spares healthy tissue
• Usually performed on an outpatient basis
• Process does not cause hair loss

Prostate Seed Implants

• Involves a short stay operative procedure
• Radioactive seeds are very accurately placed inside the prostate using ultrasound guidance.
• Allows concentration of radiation to the tumor site
• Minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue

PET/CT

• Fusion of two advanced and powerful imaging technologies
• PET/CT enables physicians to pinpoint the cancer’s location and aid in diagnosis

Stereotactic Core Breast Biopsy

• A useful method in some cases in which calcifications or a mass can be seen on mammogram but cannot be found by touch.
• A computer maps the location of the mass to guide the placement of the needle.

Chemotherapy

• A treatment performed with drugs
• Destroys cancer cells.
• Often used with surgery or radiation

Radiation Therapy

• A treatment performed with radiation
• Destroys cancer cells.
• May be used to reduce the size of a cancer before surgery
• May be used to destroy any remaining cancer cells after surgery
• May be used as the main treatment