Lakeside Hospital now offering 3D breast biopsy

New Orleans – Lakeside Hospital is one of the first facilities in the region to offer 3D-guided breast biopsy, an advanced, minimally invasive technique that provides a sample of tissue that doctors use to identify and diagnose breast abnormalities.  

The Hologic® Affirm™ Prone Breast Biopsy System uses 3D imaging for biopsy guidance and increased precision. The 3D visualization facilitates the localization and accurate targeting of lesions, including those that can be challenging to detect with conventional imaging techniques.

In addition, this new biopsy technology has several key advantages over standard X-ray biopsy procedures, including faster targeting and fewer X-ray exposures, resulting in shorter procedure times and reduced radiation patient doses. The new biopsy system also has the advantage of allowing the patient to recline comfortably in the prone position, removed from the field of view of the biopsy instruments.

“Lakeside Hospital is pleased to offer this advanced technology to the women in our community,” said Tara Beth Anderson, associate chief nursing officer at Tulane Lakeside. “The ability to biopsy small areas of interest that may not be visible using other imaging techniques provides a significant advantage to our physicians and their patients. And integrating this ability into a system that allows procedures to be performed with patients in the prone position represents a transformative innovation in breast biopsy.

“Tulane’s investment in this technology is another affirmation of our commitment to the early detection and diagnosis of this devastating disease.”

Tulane Healthy System has a tradition of investing in the latest technology to detect breast cancer. Tulane was the first facility in the Gulf South region to offer 3D mammography, also known as breast tomosynthesis, and recently upgraded equipment to the latest Genius™ 3D Mammography™ system to provide better, earlier breast cancer detection for patients. Studies show that the 3D mammography exam has greater accuracy than 2D mammography for women across a variety of ages and breast densities. It is the only mammogram that is FDA approved as superior for women with dense breasts compared to 2D alone.

3D mammography is available at Tulane Medical Center and Lakeside Hospital in Metairie, and 3D breast biopsy is available at Lakeside Hospital.