Women's Imaging Services
Grandview Women’s Imaging is dedicated to the screening and early diagnosis of breast cancer in women. Women’s imaging services, offered in a convenient outpatient setting, include 3D screening and diagnostic mammography, bone density measurement, breast MRI, breast ultrasound, ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, stereotactic-guided breast biopsy and localization procedures for breast surgery.
What is a Screening Mammogram?
A screening mammogram is a special X-ray picture of the breast performed in women without symptoms to allow for the early diagnosis of breast cancer or other breast abnormalities.
Screening mammograms are performed in women who do not have any symptoms or signs of breast cancer. Higher risk women or women who have previously had breast cancer can also get screening mammograms if they are not having any symptoms. At Grandview Medical Center, our goal is to provide mammograms with modern technology in a calming and friendly environment where stress is minimized.
Currently, yearly mammograms are recommended beginning at age 40 for all women. Earlier yearly screening may be recommended in women who are at a higher risk for breast cancer or have a family history of breast cancer.
What is 3D Mammography?
Grandview Medical Center offers 3D mammography technology or breast tomosynthesis, which means the breast is imaged in thin slices. The images can be looked at like pages in a book. Studies have shown that 3D mammography allows for higher cancer detection rates and lower false positive rates. The 3D mammogram procedure will feel the same as standard 2D mammography. Additionally, with 3D mammograms there is often a decreased need for additional mammogram views or "callbacks" for benign or incidental findings.
The radiation in a 3D mammogram is slightly greater than with 2D, but it is well within the allowable safe standards of the FDA and ACR. Additionally, Grandview Medical Center uses technology which can reduce the radiation dose. Based on recent evidence, 3D performs much better than 2D mammograms for cancer detection.
What is a Diagnostic Mammogram?
Diagnostic mammograms are performed when you have a symptom such as a lump felt by you or your doctor, thickening in your breast, nipple discharge, change in breast size or shape, or localized pain in the breast. Diagnostic mammograms will also be performed if you have had an abnormal screening mammogram, a personal breast cancer history, or as a follow-up to an abnormal mammogram.
We use digital and 3D mammography and, if needed, high resolution ultrasound to perform diagnostic breast imaging. When you come in for a diagnostic mammogram, the radiologist will read your mammogram while you are waiting, and specialized or additional views will be performed the same day. The radiologist will talk with you before you leave to explain your study results, answer any questions and help you coordinate any follow-up. If you need any additional appointments, we will help you make them.
What is a Breast Ultrasound?
Breast ultrasound is used as a problem-solving tool for the breast. It can be used to evaluate a new lump felt by you or your doctor, or something seen on your mammogram. The ultrasound examination, done in conjunction with the mammogram and/or clinical exam, can help better characterize the area of interest. We will discuss all results with you at your appointment, answer any questions you may have and communicate those results to you and your doctor.
What is a Breast Needle Biopsy?
We perform needle biopsies of the breast in the comfort of our office, using our imaging tools. Biopsies can be performed in a minimally invasive manner using ultrasound, stereotactic or 3D (tomosynthesis) guidance. We also perform cyst aspirations and fine needle aspirations. We will walk you through the procedure step by step to ease your anxiety. We want you to feel comfortable with your procedure. Our equipment allows us to see and accurately target the area that requires biopsy. We also place a tiny biopsy clip at the time of the biopsy to mark the area of concern. The biopsy samples are sent to the pathology department and we will notify you of your results and provide you with your next steps.
What is a Wire or Tag Localization?
If there is something found by biopsy in the breast that requires removal by a surgeon because it is breast cancer, pre-cancer or a high risk or indeterminate lesion, the surgeon will need us to perform a breast wire or tag localization. Before the surgery, a wire or tag is inserted into the breast to help guide the surgeon to the area or areas to be surgically removed. This allows the surgeon to be more precise and remove the area of concern. This procedure can be performed with mammographic or ultrasound guidance in our office the day of the surgery. The technology uses an “RFID tag" placement device which allows us to localize the area before the day of surgery. Breast surgery can be very stressful so we strive to do everything we can to help alleviate as much of this stress as possible.
What is Breast MRI?
MRI scans are usually offered in an outpatient setting in a hospital or clinic. You'll first have an IV line placed in a vein in your arm so that contrast material can be injected during the test. You will lie face down on a flat table with your arms above your head. Your breasts will hang down into an opening in the table so they can be scanned without being compressed. The technologist may use pillows to make you comfortable and help keep you from moving. The table then slides into a long, narrow tube.
The test is painless, but you have to lie still inside the narrow tube. You may be asked to hold your breath or keep very still during certain parts of the test. The machine may make loud thumping, clicking and whirring noises, much like the sound of a washing machine, as the magnet switches on and off. You will be provided with earplugs to help block the noise out during testing.
When a breast MRI is done to look for breast cancer, a contrast material called gadolinium is injected into a vein in the arm during the exam, which helps show any abnormal areas of breast tissue (this contrast dye is different from what is used in CT scans). Let the technologist know if you have any allergies or have had problems before with any contrast or dye used in imaging tests.
Each set of images usually takes a few minutes, and the whole test usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes. After the test, you may be asked to wait while the pictures are checked to see if more images are needed.
What is a Bone Density?
Bone density is an important part of caring for a women's health because when women age, have removal of their ovaries or take certain medications, their bone density can decrease. Very low bone density is called osteoporosis, and can increase your risk of fractures. Because fractures can be debilitating, measurement of bone density to allow for treatment of osteoporosis is very important to prevent unnecessary fractures. A very detailed bone density report is provided to your physician and they will guide your therapy.