The new screening is called Mammo+Heart, and uses U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared software to detect the presence or absence of breast arterial calcification, a calcium building in the breast’s arteries.
The details
Chief Medical Officer Chirag Parghi said research shows women with breast arterial calcification have an increased risk of heart disease or stroke and the new technology provides insight into a woman’s cardiovascular risk. He said the goal of the screening is to get women who are at risk the additional tools they need.
“There's emerging evidence that [breast arterial calcification] has very big prognostic potential for...heart disease,” Parghi said. “Women are dying from heart disease at unprecedented rates.”
The new screen examines every pixel of a patient’s 3D mammogram to find calcium build ups in the arteries.
The clinic began offering the screening in May, Parghi said, adding that it is also available in Arizona and Washington D.C.
“We’ve had a nice response,” Parghi said. “Women are really excited to get this knowledge...it’s very encouraging to see patients be curious about their own health.”
What else?
The screen does not require any extra steps or preparation before the mammogram, Parghi said and patients receive their results within a few days.
Parghi suggested women over 40 who receive routine 3D mammograms should consider Mammo+Heart. He said insurance does not currently cover the screening; however, the cost can be paid with a Health Savings Account or a Flexible Spending Account.
The screening allows patients to be proactive about their health rather than reactive, Parghi said.
“This is an amazing time for women’s health,” Parghi said. “There is unprecedented technology available to find disease before women are symptomatic.”
Solis Mammography has several locations in cities across North Texas, including Flower Mound, Frisco, Plano, Prosper and Southlake. A full list can be found online.
