October 2003 - The Baptist Breast Health Center on the campus of Baptist Medical Center South now utilizes the new ImageChecker^® Computer Aided Detection (CAD) system for use in breast cancer screening. This system assists radiologists in minimizing false negative readings during mammograms. According to the FDA, CAD systems increase breast cancer detection by 23.4 percent on screening mammograms. This new technology allows Baptist Health to offer triple reads on all screening mammograms. Each screening mammogram performed at Baptist Medical Center South is triple read by two board certified radiologists, one of whom is a specially trained breast health specialist, and by this advanced computer aided diagnostic equipment. In addition, screening mammography results are provided the same day. This new technology and service positions the Baptist Breast Health Center among the top five percent in the United States.

The ImageChecker^® system is used in conjunction with film based mammography. After digitizing a film mammogram, the system's specialized processing software analyzes the image and draws the radiologist's attention to suspicious features that may be indicative of cancer. Before activating the ImageChecker^® monitor to see if any areas have been highlighted for additional review, two board certified radiologists, one a breast health specialist, review the entire mammogram. Then, if an image is marked by the system, the radiologists go back to the original mammogram to review the area in more detail.

For more information, contact the Baptist Breast Health Center at (334) 286-5556.