Molecular breast imaging technology arrives just in time for new breast density law

Edward-Elmhurst Health is the first health system in the Chicagoland area to offer molecular breast imaging and comes just in time for Illinois' newly enacted breast density notification law, according to a report published online Jan. 14 by Crain’s Chicago Business.  

Illinois is the 36th state in the U.S. to pass a dense breast tissue notification law, which officially went into effect on Jan. 1. The law, HB4392, states that when a patient’s mammogram indicates the prescience of dense breast tissue, their provider must send them a summary of the report which details their findings and follow-up screening information.  

Edward Hospital, located in Naperville, Illinois and part of the west suburbs of Chicago, started offering molecular breast imaging back September after completing a $750,000, nine-month construction project to create a new space to put the technology, according to the article.  

Molecular breast imaging, which examines cellular activity in the breast rather than taking a picture with an x-ray, is commonly used in patients with dense breast tissue to detect signs of cancer sooner.  

Read the entire article below.  

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A recent graduate from Dominican University (IL) with a bachelor’s in journalism, Melissa joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering all aspects of health imaging. She’s a fan of singing and playing guitar, elephants, a good cup of tea, and her golden retriever Cooper.

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