Shelby Baptist Medical Imaging Program Celebrates Milestone

Shelby Baptist Medical Center’s Diagnostic Center and Tower Imaging is excited to announce its 2500th low-dose lung cancer CT screening. This significant milestone was reached over the three years since the program was implemented. The low-dose CT screening is a very detailed 3-dimensional scan and can show early-stage lung cancers that may be too small to be detected by a traditional X-ray. Traditional X-rays can identify lung cancers the size of a dime, whereas low-dose lung cancer CT screening can reveal lung abnormalities the size of a grain of rice. This is a crucial difference; the smaller the tumor is when it is detected, the less likely the cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. This means more treatment options and a higher chance of survival.

In addition, Shelby Baptist Medical Center is proud to achieve the designation as the only facility in Shelby County to offer cardiac MRI services. Shelby Baptist Medical Center Imaging techs Cynthia Dunlap, Bart Tucker and Judy Kuper recently completed the 32-hour cardiac MRI certification through the American College of Radiology.

Shelby Baptist Medical Center now offers the advanced capability of 3D mammograms. This new screening and diagnostic tool is designed for early breast cancer detection and is performed in conjunction with a traditional 2D digital mammogram. During the 3D part of the exam, the X-ray arm sweeps in a slight arc over the breast, taking multiple images. Then a computer uses these images to produce a 3D image of the breast tissue, providing greater detail for the radiologist.

The benefits of 3D mammography include earlier and easier detection. With conventional mammography, the radiologist is viewing the breast tissue in a flat image. Sometimes this tissue appears overlapped, making it difficult to see all the individual structures. 3D mammography allows the doctor to better see the different structures as well as the location, size and shape of any abnormal tissue, such as small cancers. As a result, 3D mammography leads to fewer call backs for patients. In the past, if the radiologist saw an area that was questionable, the patient would be asked to return for additional imaging.  By being able to see the breast tissue in smaller, thinner sections, the "second look" might not be necessary.



Lastly, Shelby Baptist Medical Center is proud to receive re-accreditation of its CT program by the American College of Radiology. American College of Radiology accreditation is recognized as the gold standard in medical imaging. The three-year accreditation helps assure patients they are receiving the highest level of image quality and safety by documenting facilities meet requirements for equipment, medical personnel and quality assurance.