Whatever your doctor orders can all be done at one time in one spot. Tests are conducted by registered technologists, and images are read by radiologists the same day so results are available within 24 hours.

A nurse navigates you through the process, offering support and education. When necessary, she takes care of scheduling any follow-up care or further testing by coordinating between the radiologist and the referring physician. And she does it quickly, because she knows you don’t want to wait. If a biopsy is needed, it’s usually scheduled the very next day. St. Mary’s is the first to bring the concept of a nurse navigator to women’s imaging in Jefferson City. 

And women love the center’s comfortable furnishings, soft lighting and table of complimentary cookies and beverages. They say it feels more like a spa than a clinic. And those flimsy gowns?  They’re out! Plush robes are in!  A dressing room is right inside each exam room.

The Women’s Imaging Center is located on the second floor of St. Mary’s Health Plaza, just down the hall from the adjoining hospital, but convenient to the Health Plaza parking lot. Enter and come directly to the center to register.

For more information about the Women’s Imaging Center, call 761-7245.

What They're Saying 

“This is the type of center that’s popping up in large urban areas. It’s very unusual to get that kind of service in a smaller community.” Jeff Patrick, MD, radiologist

What patients are telling us about the Women’s Imaging Center:
“Every employee, from the front desk to the clinical procedures, was friendly, caring and efficient. I had a mammogram, ultrasound AND my results in 25 minutes. I left with a lighter heart knowing my results immediately.” 

“Having a nurse available to explain the procedure and call and set up my next exam was wonderful! Thank you.”

 “Everyone was so friendly and genuinely seemed to enjoy working there and with each other. How refreshing!”

 “Thank you for making my annual mammogram so easy.”

Services

St. Mary’s Women’s Imaging Center offers all the critical diagnostic and screening services for a woman’s unique needs. Click on each service below to find out more about it:

Digital Mammography
Digital Mammography is a mammography system in which the x-ray film is replaced by solid-state detectors that convert x-rays into electrical signals. These detectors are similar to those found in digital cameras. The electrical signals are used to produce images of the breast that can be seen on a computer screen or printed on special film similar to conventional mammograms. From the patient's point of view, having a digital mammogram is essentially the same as having a conventional film screen mammogram. 

Breast MRI
Breast MRI uses a powerful magnetic field to produce detailed pictures of the breast. It offers valuable information about many breast conditions that cannot be obtained by other imaging modalities, such as mammography or ultrasound. MRI of the breast is not a replacement for mammography or ultrasound imaging but rather a supplemental tool for detecting and staging breast cancer and other breast abnormalities.

Diagnostic Ultrasound
Diagnostic ultrasound involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Images are captured in real-time so they can show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels. The primary use of breast ultrasound is to help diagnose breast abnormalities detected by a physician during a physical exam and to characterize potential abnormalities seen on mammography. Ultrasound imaging can help to determine if an abnormality is solid (which may be a non-cancerous lump of tissue or a cancerous tumor) or fluid-filled (such as a benign cyst) or both cystic and solid. 

Breast Biopsies
Image-guided breast biopsies may be performed when lumps or abnormalities in the breast are detected by physical examination, mammography or other imaging studies. In a biopsy, some cells are removed from a suspicious area in the breast and examined under a microscope to determine a diagnosis. Image-guided biopsy is performed when the abnormal area in the breast is too small to be felt, making it difficult to locate the lesion by hand.

Bone Density Scans
A bone-density scan, also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) or bone densitometry, is an enhanced form of x-ray technology that is used to measure bone loss. It is most often used to diagnose osteoporosis, a condition that often affects women after menopause. Osteoporosis involves a gradual loss of calcium, as well as structural changes, causing the bones to become thinner, more fragile and more likely to break.

Frequently Asked Questions  
For breast health, how often do I need to do exams and screening mammograms?
Mammograms and breast self-exams are credited with catching breast cancer early and saving lives. But, women may be confused over recent conflicting recommendations about when and how often to get mammograms and do self-exams. The radiologists at St. Mary’s recommend following the guidelines of the American Cancer Society, which can be found at www.cancer.org: 

• Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing as long as a woman is in good health.
• Clinical breast exams are recommended about every three years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.
• Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Breast self-exam is an option for women starting in their 20s.

The American Cancer Society recommends that some women, because of their family history, a genetic tendency or other factors, be screened with MRI in addition to mammograms. (The number of women who fall into this category is small: less than 2 percent of all the women in the U.S.) Talk with your doctor about your history and whether you should have additional tests at an earlier age.

What is osteoporosis?
When we think of osteoporosis, we think of an older woman with a loss of height and a hunched over posture. While these were once considered unavoidable signs of aging, this is no longer true. Understanding osteoporosis, including how it is diagnosed and treated, can play an important role in your health.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones have lost minerals, especially calcium, making them weak, brittle, and more susceptible to a fracture or break. Any bone in the body can be affected by osteoporosis, but the most common places where fractures occur are the back, hips and wrists.

Research has shown about 1 out of 5 American women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. The leading cause of osteoporosis is a decrease of estrogen in women at the time of menopause and a decrease of testosterone in men. Women over the age of 50 and men over the age of 70 have a higher risk of osteoporosis. Other causes include drinking large amounts of alcohol, smoking, family history, history of hormone treatment for prostate cancer or breast cancer, low body weight and insufficient calcium in your diet.

With osteoporosis, bone loss can occur with no obvious symptoms. While your bones may not feel weaker, you may experience symptoms without realizing they are associated with osteoporosis.

Unfortunately, many people do not discover that they have osteoporosis until a bone fracture occurs. Early detection can help decrease the risk of fractures.

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
To screen for osteoporosis, your health care provider can order a bone mineral density test. It is a simple painless test that only takes minutes. A bone mineral density or DEXA scan is a form of x-ray that measures the amount of calcium in the bones. The results can show whether or not you have or are at risk for developing osteoporosis.

Radiologists recommend the first bone-density scan at menopause. If it’s abnormal or marginal, scans should follow every two years. If the scan is normal, it can be repeated less often, at the physician’s recommendation. Call your health care provider if you have any signs or symptoms of osteoporosis or if you wish to be screened for this disease.

How is osteoporosis treated?  
If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, there are several different treatment options. Regular exercise can reduce the likelihood of bone fractures in people with osteoporosis. Some of the recommended exercises include walking, jogging, playing tennis, dancing, lifting weights, biking and yoga for a minimum of 30 minutes every day.

A diet high in calcium can greatly reduce bone loss. The National Institute of Health recommends at least 1,200 milligrams of calcium every day.  Examples of foods that are high in calcium are cheese, ice cream, leafy green vegetables, low-fat milk, salmon, tofu and yogurt.  Avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol will increase your body’s ability to absorb calcium.

Several medications are available through your health care provider to control pain from the disease, slow down or stop bone loss, and prevent fractures by strengthening the bones. 

For more information about women's health, click here.