01-05-2025
The role of imaging in women's preventive health
May is Women's Health Month — a timely opportunity to consider the vital impact of disease prevention in the female population, including the essential role of advanced imaging in early detection of some of the most common and high morbidity diseases that affect women.
Breast cancer screening
Breast cancer impacts 1 in 8 women in their lifetime, with 1 in 6 diagnosed in their 40s. It remains the second leading cause of cancer death in women. There is well-established clinical data supporting the efficacy of routine screening mammography in reducing breast cancer mortality. The American College of Radiology (ACR) recommends annual screening mammograms for women of average risk to begin at age 40 and continue annually until age 80. Advanced 3D/tomosynthesis technology is the standard of care for screening mammography and has been shown to improve the cancer detection rate. In fact, annual 3D screening mammography can help detect breast cancer up to three years before a lump can be felt by a physician or patient. Early detection stage 0 or stage 1 has a nearly 100% five-year survival rate, making annual screening an imperative for women.
Osteoporosis screening
Osteoporosis affects about 1 in 5 women over age 50, and 80% of the approximately 10 million Americans with osteoporosis are women. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lists several risks associated with osteoporotic fractures, including stress, subsequent fractures, loss of mobility and diminished performance of activities of daily living (ADLs) and death. Only 40-60% of patients who sustain an osteoporotic hip fracture will return to their pre-fracture level of mobility and ADLs.
DEXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) is a low-dose radiation exam that provides a patient's bone mineral density (BMD). The study is typically performed on the hip or lumbar spine and takes less than 20 minutes to complete.
Clinical guidelines advise performing bone density testing in all women 65 and older and sooner in women between 50-64 with at least one risk factor for osteoporosis, including menopause, low body weight, family history of a parent with an osteoporotic hip fracture, smoking and excess alcohol intake. The recommended frequency of DEXA screening varies based on the patient's risk level, with high-risk patients performed every two years and moderate risk every three to five years (CDC).
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease screening
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) is the leading cause of death in women, affecting more than 60 million women in the U.S. alone. Standard ACVD screening guidelines advise assessing for traditional risk factors of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity and gender-specific considerations (e.g. menopausal status).
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a very specific feature of coronary atherosclerosis. Multiple studies have demonstrated that the addition of CAC score to a patient risk profile improves cardiovascular risk assessment and better informs clinical decision-making and treatment planning. CAC scoring with computed tomography (CT) is typically used for assessing risk for cardiovascular health. CAC-CT is a non-contrast CT of the chest performed with ECG and centered on the heart. A specific software application calculates the CAC score. Newer generation CT scanners use lower radiation doses, which are comparable to a mammogram or lung screening chest CT.
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Lung cancer screening
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women. Tobacco smoking is by far the biggest risk factor, and nearly 20% of all women in the U.S. are current smokers. The estimated lifetime risk for a woman to develop lung cancer is 1 in 18, including both smokers and nonsmokers; this breaks down to a lifetime risk of 11.2% for current smokers, 5.8% former smokers, and 1.3% nonsmokers. [1]
Leading national health organizations, like the American Cancer Society and USPSTF, recommend annual low dose CT (LDCT) lung screening exams for patients at high risk of lung cancer (current or former smokers with 20 or greater pack year history) between the ages 50-80 years. These guidelines were updated in 2023. LDCT lung screening is a non-contrast CT of the entire chest performed with low dose radiation, substantially lower than a routine chest CT.
All of these advanced imaging exams are available in our greater Buffalo community to provide convenient and essential preventive health services to the women we care for.
Visit to learn more, or to schedule, call 716-631-2500.
Windsong Radiology has been serving patients throughout Western New York for over 35+ years, providing comprehensive diagnostic imaging and women's breast health services, advanced technology, and board-certified, subspecialized radiologists who read over 340K studies each year. Windsong is committed to delivering regional clinical excellence and expert, compassionate care for patients.
[1] Bruder C, Bulliard JL, Germann S, Konzelmann I, Bochud M, Leyvraz M, Chiolero A. Estimating lifetime and 10-year risk of lung cancer. Prev Med Rep. 2018 Jun 18;11:125-130. doi: 10.1016/ PMID: 29942733; PMCID: PMC6010924.
