Mammography

Our state of the art, ACR accredited Breast Imaging Department provides the full gamut of breast imaging from digital screening and diagnostic mammography, ultrasound and breast MRI, as well as all forms of breast biopsy. Our radiologists are fellowship trained mammographers, with decades of experience reading mammography. We work in close collaboration with breast surgeons at St Joseph’s Hospital and the surrounding community, to provide world-class care to our patients.

Mammography

Mammography uses low-dose x-rays to evaluate the patient’s breast tissue and is used both as a screening and diagnostic tool. Screening mammograms are the only study that is proven to decrease mortality from breast cancer. The goal of mammography is to provide early detection of breast cancer, which can most successfully be accomplished by screening women yearly. As per the American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging, all women should be screened from the age of 40 years old every year, or earlier if there is a family history of breast cancer.

The newest mammographic technology available is 3D Tomosynthesis mammography, also known as Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT). In traditional, 2D mammography, cancers can be obscured by overlapping breast parenchyma. DBT creates thin, overlapping images throughout the breast, which allows improved detection of breast cancer, particularly in women with dense breasts.  Also, DBT  has been proven to decrease the number of unnecessary secondary visits for additional imaging.  Remarkably, these benefits can be achieved with only a minimal increase in the amount of radiation dose administered to the patient and minimal to no change in the patient’s mammographic experience.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound evaluation of breast parenchyma provides a supplementary tool to mammography using non-radiating Doppler imaging. Newly updated clinical guidelines, which are based on extensive research, recommend annual screening sonography for patients who have dense breast parenchyma. Although dense breast parenchyma (which means that the breast is composed of greater than 50% breast tissue, relative to fat) is a normal finding, patients with dense breasts are at increased risk of developing breast cancer AND cancer may be obscured on the mammogram, due to the breast tissue. With the additional screening tool of breast ultrasound, we are able to identify and diagnose smaller breast cancers, which would have been hidden on mammography. Also, all of our facilities perform diagnostic breast ultrasounds for patients who have clinical findings in the breast (such as breast pain or breast mass).

Breast Biopsy

Our facilities are equipped to perform all forms of breast biopsy, including stereotactic guided, tomosynthesis guided, ultrasound-guided, and MRI guided core biopsies. Our equipment is state of the art, and our physician expertise ensures adequate sampling of suspicious lesions. In addition, our minimally invasive techniques allow sampling to occur with the lowest level of patient discomfort.

Breast MRI

Breast MRI is the most sensitive imaging tool in the evaluation of breast cancer and is even able to find breast cancers that may be missed on mammography (including DBT) and screening sonography. However, breast MRI detects many lesions that are actually benign, resulting in many false-positive results. As a result, breast MRI is only used in certain clinical situations, such as screening high-risk women and evaluating the extent of breast cancer.