Mammography

Mammograms are low-dose x-ray of the breast and play an important role in early detection. Mammograms can reveal lumps and masses that cannot be felt during your monthly self-examinations. The earlier the detection, the more treatment options there are for you. You can be proactive by scheduling your annual digital mammography screening with Asheville Breast Center and making it a habit.

Asheville Breast Center uses the latest technology for Digital Mammography Screenings. These low-dose x-rays are the best tools for early detection of breast cancer. The breast is compressed for a few seconds during the 10 to 15 minute exam to allow a female registered radiologic technologist to perform top and side x-rays. A radiologist specializing in mammography then interprets the results of the x-rays and provides them to your physician. You will then be notified if further examinations are necessary. Annual mammogram screenings are recommended for all women aged 40 and over. Your physician may recommend starting your annual mammogram sooner if you display symptoms or other common risk factors.

Diagnostic Exams

Your annual mammogram screening may reveal changes or areas of concern that need to be explored a bit further. In this case, your radiologist and/or your physician may recommend one of several Diagnostic Exam procedures performed at Asheville Breast Center. Diagnostic Mammograms, Breast Ultrasound, Stereotactic Breast Biopsy and Bone Densitometry procedures gather more detailed information than standard screenings. They allow the radiologist to make a more accurate diagnosis.

No one likes to find a lump or a mass in their breast, but it does happen. So, thorough examination and diagnosis are extremely important when a problem area is discovered. There are several Diagnostic Exams that allow our radiologists and your physician a clear and precise picture of what is going on so they can recommend the right course of action. Here is a brief description of the various types of Diagnostic Exams that could be performed if deemed necessary.

Diagnostic Mammogram – This mammogram involves additional x-rays and more detailed images through magnified areas of the breast. It is commonly recommended when a symptom is discovered in your annual screening or when changes or special circumstances, such as breast implants, require more detail than a screening can provide.

Breast Ultrasound – This simple diagnostic procedure only takes a few minutes to complete and is painless for the patient. Just like an ultrasound used for pregnancy, it is used to look inside the breast at a mass to determine if the mass is solid tissue or simply a fluid-filled cyst. There are no known side effects and because it is performed on top of the skin by way of a transducer, it can help eliminate unnecessary surgical procedures easily.

Bone Densitometry – Many women over the age of 50 may develop osteoporosis or other bone health issues. Bone Densitometry is a non-invasive low energy x-ray that measures your bone mineral density in your spine, hip or forearm. Your radiologist and doctor can use the information to assess your risk of bone fracture. Risk factors that increase your need for this procedure include: kidney or thyroid disease, menopause, loss of height, diabetes, long-term steroid use, cancer therapy, family history of osteoporosis and alcohol and tobacco use.

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy – Your annual mammogram screening may unveil lesions in the breast. The word “lesion” is used to describe an area on a mammogram that appears different from the surrounding breast tissue but cannot be felt. Stereotactic Breast Biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure, which gathers a tissue sample using a special type of needle. You will lie face down on a table designed to compress your breast. Your breast will be numbed and the radiologist will collect a tissue sample of the lesion. The actual needle biopsy will be quick. The procedure does not replace mammogram and is performed only on small lesions that cannot be felt and only after your radiologist or physician deem it necessary for further examination.

Breast MRI

Your annual mammograms are critical for early detection. However, sometimes your doctors need a better picture, especially if you are in a high-risk category for breast cancer. Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a high-definition mammogram. The clarity and exceptional image quality can provide better detection for women of high risk.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) produces images of the body’s internal structures by passing radio waves through a powerful magnetic field. Differing radio waves are produced by the different body structures and these are converted into digital images by a computer. MRI is especially good for imaging soft tissues in the body. During an MRI scan, you will lie comfortably on your back on a table inside a large magnet. Since you will be positioned within a large, very strong magnet, you must remove all loose metal objects. A piece of equipment called a “coil,” which sends and receives the radio frequency waves will be placed around the area being examined. During the scan, as with all MRI exams, you will hear various noises, ranging from a buzzing to a loud knocking. You will be given earplugs to diminish the noise. The total exam time for a scan can range from 30 to 60 minutes. You must lie very still during each sequence, in order to produce clear, diagnostic images.

Your doctor may recommend Breast MRI if:

you have a close blood relative who has had breast cancer
you started your period before age 12
you went through menopause after age 55
you have had radiation treatment to the chest
you have had breast cancer
you have had an abnormal breast biopsy

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