meet dr. sonya kella, medical director & dedicated breast radiologist We are proud to announce that Dr. Sonya Kella, a prominent breast radiologist from Washington, D.C., will join Shady Grove Breast Center as its medical director and dedicated breast imager. Dr. Kella comes to us from the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Georgetown University Hospital. Georgetown is one of the most prestigious teaching and research hospitals in the nation, as well as an acclaimed leader in mammography and diagnostic breast imaging. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Kella to Shady Grove Breast Center. She will play an integral role in our vision to provide patients a new level of world-class breast care. Dr. Kella s credentials: Board Certified by the American Board of Radiology Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Radiology at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. (2009 to present) Attending Radiologist at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan (2008) Fellowship in Combined Breast & Body Imaging at William Beaumont Hospital (2007-2008) Continued on back
Having a mammogram, whether for routine screening or a clinical abnormality, can provoke much anxiety. As a breast radiologist, I feel a deep sense of duty to provide my patients an answer. Most of the time, I can reassure them that their worst fear isn t true. On the small number of occasions where we must conduct further tests, I devise the most effective plan to manage the abnormality whether it be advanced imaging, percutaneous tissue biopsy or, in rare cases, surgical excision. Patients deserve to know a definitive, accurate diagnosis and they deserve to know it right away. Dr. Sonya Kella Continued from front Residency in Diagnostic Radiology at William Beaumont Hospital (2003-2007) Internship at William Beaumont Hospital (2002-2003) Medical Degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (1998-2002) Bachelor s of Science with High Distinction from University of Michigan (1994-1998) Member of the Radiological Society of North America and the American Roentgen Ray Society Experienced lecturer in radiology Multiple published research articles ShadyGroveRadiology.com
risk assessment & breast density evaluation As a physician, you likely encourage your female patients over 40 years old to have an annual mammogram. That s an excellent start, but for females who are at high risk for breast cancer or who have dense breasts it shouldn t stop there. Mammograms aren t always enough Advanced imaging procedures like breast MRI can greatly benefit high-risk or dense-breasted women. In fact, in 2007, the American Cancer Society published new guidelines recommending that women with an especially high risk for breast cancer augment their annual mammogram with a breast MRI, as it can detect cancers that mammograms overlook. So what s the problem? It s an issue of being informed... Many female patients who are at high risk don t know it. And most women with dense breasts are completely unaware of their situation, because it s almost never reported to patients. That s all about to change. Our plan for detecting breast cancer earlier than ever The new Shady Grove Breast Center, as well as our four sister locations, will: Assess your patient s risk for developing breast cancer before any exams are done. Automatically calculate your patient s breast density as part of her mammogram. Customize your patient s screening program to her individual breast cancer risk and breast density. Advanced screening procedures, such as breast MRI, may be recommended as an adjunct to mammography. Continued on back
Surprising facts about breast density: Close to 40% of women in the United States have dense breasts. That s 15 million to 17 million females today.1 Women with dense breasts are at least five times more likely to develop breast cancer.2 Cancers in dense-breasted women are two to three times more likely to slip by a radiologist reading a routine mammogram.3 That s because cancerous lesions appear white on a mammogram, but dense breast tissue also appears white a situation that can camouflage malignancies. Laws in Texas and Connecticut require for breast density to be reported to patients after a mammogram. Additional legislation has been submitted or is being developed in Illinois, Florida, New York, California, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and the U.S. House. 1 Stomper PC, D Souza DJ, DiNitto PA, Arredondo MA. Analysis of Parenchymal Density on Mammograms in 1,353 Women 25-79 Years Old. American Journal of Roentgenology. 1996;167(5):1261-1265. 2 American Cancer Society 3 Journal of the American Medical Association. 299(18). Continued from front This strategy, combined with our clinic s distinguished physicians and sophisticated technology, will ensure your patient receives the accurate, early detection she deserves. Even more importantly, it will ensure that if cancer is found, your patient will have the best chance of beating it. ShadyGroveRadiology.com
3 things your patients must know about breast cancer screenings Scheduling an annual mammogram may not be the first thing on your patients to-do list but it should be. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), women age 40 and older should combine monthly breast self-exams with yearly mammograms and clinical breast exams. Here are three important points your patients must consider: 1. Detecting cancer early makes all the difference. What s the big deal about annual screening? Early detection, plain and simple. Women diagnosed with breast cancer at Stage 1 have nearly a 90% five-year survival rate, according to the ACS. However, women with Stage 4 cancers have only a 15% chance of living another five years. Finding breast cancer sooner translates to significantly higher odds of survival. 2. Some women need more than a mammogram. We believe mammograms are outstanding screening tools for many women. In high-risk and dense-breasted women, however, mammograms can miss small cancers. That s why your patients need a breast clinic that measures their individual risk and the density of their breasts, then tailors screening to each patient s unique needs. A mammogram may be enough, or they may also need advanced procedures like breast MRI for adequate detection. 3. Shady Grove Breast Center is an excellent choice for annual screening. Our new clinic will be the central breast center for Shady Grove Radiology which performs more than 22,000 mammograms per year. Our comprehensive program will include risk assessment and breast density evaluation services two key steps in devising the most effective screening strategy for your patients. Continued on back
Why Mammography Still Matters From time to time, studies are published that question the benefit of yearly mammography for women in their 40s who are not at high risk. In every case, the studies use faulty methodology and ignore the plain facts that mammography saves lives. Consider these statistics from the American College of Radiology: Mammography has helped reduce breast cancer mortality in the United States by nearly 1/3 since 1990. 1 in 6 breast cancers occur in women aged 40-49. Of all the years of life saved by mammography, 40% are for women in their 40s. ¾ of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease and are not considered high risk. Even for women 50+, skipping a mammogram every other year would miss up to 30% of cancers. Continued from front Shady Grove Breast Center s philosophy of truly expert care is evident in our medical director, Dr. Sonya Kella, a distinguished radiologist from Georgetown University Hospital who focuses solely on breast imaging. In addition, each of our technologists are highly skilled in the nuances of mammography, breast MRI and breast ultrasound. For your patients convenience and peace of mind, all exams are completed the same day as their initial visit. In most cases, patients receive the test results before going home. We share results of any biopsies just 24 to 48 hours later. The bottom line your patients are our top priority, and we make sure they feel like it. ShadyGroveRadiology.com