Here at the Wellness Center women can receive a mammography or bone density dexa-scan. Here we bring a unique expertise to every aspect of education and diagnosis. Our board certified team of radiologists, surgeons, plastic surgeons and pathologists are among the country's most respected. Our highly skilled radiologists have made us a referral center for mammography readings. In an area where experience determines expertise, we evaluate more results than most other hospitals.

Mammography with CAD Technology
A mammogram can be a screening test or a diagnostic test for breast problems. Every mammogram at the Breast Center is reviewed by one of our skilled radiologists. To aid in their search for breast abnormalities, each mammogram is also reviewed by a computer designed to search for abnormalities. This technology is referred to as Computer-Assisted Detection (CAD). R2 Technology, which is also referred to as the ImageChecker, is a FDA approved process designed to improve currently used technologies in the detection of breast cancer. The ImageChecker digitizes a mammogram image and then scans the image for anomalies that might be overlooked by the human eye. This technology helps radiologists prevent false negative diagnoses and has been shown to increase breast cancers identified on mammograms.

Being able to have "another set of eyes" looking at mammography images definitely increases the possibility of early detection, and as a result, can actually be life-saving.

Bone Density Dexa-Scan
Bone density is the amount of minerals such as calcium in a specific region of the bones. From knowing what your bone density is, an estimate of the strength of your bones can be made.

Calcium and additional minerals are constantly being added to and taken away from bone. When minerals are taken away faster than they are added, the bones become lighter, less dense, and more porous. This makes the bones weaker and increases their risk of fracture. Since your bone density cannot be determined from an ordinary x-ray, special bone density tests are performed to estimate what bone strength is and screen people who at risk for developing osteoporosis.

This combination of unmatched expertise, remarkable convenience and the most advanced diagnostic procedures available today - has made us the first choice of women in the Napa Valley area.

For more information about any of our Wellness Center programs, e-mail us at wellnesscenter@stjoe.org