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 When it comes to breast health, quality medical imaging is essential for the most accurate results, and Bay Imaging Consultants is committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality and professionalism. Bay Imaging Consultants is specialized in all areas of breast imaging.
Mammography
Screening
Diagnostic
Breast Ultrasound
Breast MRI
Guided Biopsy Procedures
Sterotactic Breast Biopsy
Ultrasound Guided Biopsy
Breast MRI Guided Biopsy
Mammography
Overview
Mammography is an imaging protocol to help detect early breast cancer. Mammograms are proven to find malignant tumors before they become clinically evident. The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports one out of every eight women in the U.S. will develop Breast Cancer. Early detection by way of mammography, regular self breast examination, and regular examination by a physician can significantly increase the chance of survival by up to 95%. The ACS recommends annual mammography for women over the age of 40.
 Screening
Screening mammography is a radiological examination performed to detect unsuspected breast cancer in asymptomatic women. A screening mammogram is performed when there is no specific complaint.
Screening mammography is indicated for asymptomatic women 40 years of age or older. It is reasonable to institute screening mammography at an earlier age for high risk women. Symptomatic women and women with a previously detected abnormality, for whom short interval follow-up or further evaluation has been recommended, are not candidates for screening mammography.
Diagnostic
Diagnostic mammography is a radiographic examination performed
to evaluate patients who have signs and/or symptoms of breast
disease, imaging findings of concern, or prior imaging findings
requiring a specific follow-up.
Diagnostic mammography may be appropriate for patients:
- With a specific focus of clinical concern including, but not limited to, mass, induration, auxiliary lymphadenopathy, some types of nipple discharge, skin changes, or persistent focal areas of pain or tenderness.
- With a possible radiographic abnormality.
- Recommended for short-interval follow-up (e.g., less than
1 year) for probable benign radiographic findings as defined
by the ACR Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS®)
[8].
- Whose examination requires direct involvement of the radiologist for special views, physical breast examination, or consultation.
- Who have been treated for breast cancer. At the discretion of the facility, asymptomatic women may undergo screening or diagnostic mammography.
Preparation for Exam
Preparation for your mammogram is important. If you have old mammograms done at another facility please bring them to the exam. Our Radiologist would like to compare the images. It is important that you describe any breast symptoms to the technologist before the study. Do NOT wear any deodorant, talcum powder or lotion on the upper body the day of the exam. If you might be pregnant inform the staff immediately.
Exam Time
Exams length is usually 10-20 minutes.
Exam Results
After your exam, the radiologist will review your images and a report will be sent directly to your physician. Reports are available within 24 to 72 hours.
 Breast Ultrasound
Overview
The primary use of breast ultrasound today is to help diagnose breast abnormalities detected by a physician during a physical exam (such as a lump or bloody or spontaneous clear nipple discharge) and to characterize potential abnormalities identified on the mammogram.
Ultrasound imaging can help to determine if an abnormality is solid (which may be a non-cancerous lump of tissue or a cancerous tumor) or fluid-filled (such as a benign cyst) or both cystic and solid. Ultrasound can also help show additional features of the abnormal area.
Doppler ultrasound is used to assess blood supply in breast lesions.
Breast Ultrasound uses high frequency sound much like sonar to image the breast. It is used in conjunction with mammography to answer specific questions about the breast. Ultrasound is also utilized to locate a target area for a biopsy of the breast.
Preparation for the Exam
There is no preparation for this examination.
Exam Time
A breast ultrasound exam usually takes 15-30 minutes.
Exam Results
After your exam, the radiologist will review your images and a report will be sent directly to your physician. Reports are available within 24 to 72 hours.
Breast MRI
Overview
Breast MRI usually is performed when your doctor needs more information than a mammogram, ultrasound or a clinical breast exam can provide. In certain situations, such as when a woman has a very high risk of breast cancer, breast MRI may be used as a screening tool for detecting breast cancer.
A Breast MRI captures multiple pictures of your breast. Breast
MRI images are combined, using a computer, to generate detailed
pictures. Breast MRI may show abnormalities in the breast that
do not appear on a routine mammogram or ultrasound. Breast
MRI is primarily for women with a new diagnosis of breast cancer.
It has also shown to be very helpful for women with breast
implants to check for masses around the implant as well as
leaking implants.
MRI of the breast is not a replacement for mammography or ultrasound imaging but rather a supplemental tool for detecting and staging breast cancer and other breast abnormalities.
Medical studies are currently being conducted to determine whether a MRI and other imaging methods can contribute to the early detection of breast cancer.
MR imaging of the breast is performed to:
- Assess multiple tumor locations, especially prior to breast
surgery
- Identify early breast cancer not detected through other means, especially in women with dense breast tissue and those at high risk for the disease
- Evaluate abnormalities detected by mammography or ultrasound
- Distinguish between scar tissue and recurrent tumors
- Determine whether cancer detected by mammography, ultrasound, or after surgical biopsy has spread further in the breast or into the chest wall
- Assess the effect of chemotherapy
- Provide additional information on a diseased breast to make treatment decisions.
- Determine the integrity of breast implants
Exam Time
Breast MRI exams are usually 60 minutes long.
Exam Results
After your exam, the radiologist will review your images and a report will be sent directly to your physician. Reports are available within 24 to 72 hours.
Image Guided Biopsy Procedures
Lumps or abnormalities in the breast are often detected by physical examination, mammography, or other imaging studies. However, it is not always possible to tell from these imaging tests whether a growth is benign or cancerous.
A breast biopsy is performed to remove some cells—either surgically
or through a less invasive procedure involving a hollow needle—from
a suspicious area in the breast and examine them under a microscope
to determine a diagnosis. Image-guided needle biopsy is not
designed to remove the entire lesion, but at most a very
small lesion may be removed in the process of the biopsy.
Image-guided biopsy is performed when the abnormal area in the breast is too small to be felt, making it difficult to locate the lesion by hand (called palpation).
A MRI-guided biopsy is to help guide the radiologist's instrument to the site of the abnormal growth.
 Sterotactic Breast Biopsy
Overview
A stereotactic Breast Biopsy is performed when a mass cannot be felt. The biopsy is performed to determine if the area is benign or malignant. You are placed into a special mammography machine used to locate and guide the radiologist to a suspicious area. Local anesthetic is used to minimize your discomfort.
Preparation fo Exam
Preparation for a biopsy consists of listing all your medications or herbal remedies. If you are allergic to local anesthetic please inform the radiologist or technologist.
Exam Time
The length of the exam is usually 30-60 minutes
Exam Results
After your exam, the radiologist will review your images and a report will be sent directly to your physician. Reports are available within 24 to 72 hours.
Ultrasound Guided Biopsy
Overview
Using the ultrasound machine, the lump in the breast is localized. After local anesthetic is given the radiologist uses real time ultrasound to locate the lump then a biopsy needle is placed in the lump. Samples of tissue are taken and then sent to the pathologist for examination.
Preparation for Exam
Preparation for a biopsy consists of listing all your medications or herbal remedies. If you are allergic to local anesthetic please inform the radiologist or technologist.
Exam Time
The length of the Ultrasound Guided Biopsy exam is usually 30-60 minutes
Exam Results
After your exam, the radiologist will review your images and a report will be sent directly to your physician. Reports are available within 24 to 72 hours.
Breast MRI Guided Biopsy
Overview
When a MR scan of the breast indicates an area of question and mammograms and ultrasound do not delineate the area of question then a MR Breast biopsy is recommended.
You are placed on the MRI table just as if you are having an MRI of the breast. The MRI table has been designed to provide a slight compression and access to the breast in question from either side. After the MRI is repeated the biopsy is calculated as to the location and depth. Local anesthetic is given and a special biopsy needle is inserted into the breast. Then we rescan to make sure the placement of the breast is correct prior to the biopsy. After the breast biopsy is completed a small metal clip is inserted to localize the area for a breast ultrasound and mammogram. An additional mammogram is done to confirm the clip placement.
Preparation fo Exam
Preparation for a biopsy consists of listing all your medications or herbal remedies. If you are allergic to local anesthetic please inform the radiologist or technologist.
Exam Time
The length of the MR Guided Biopsy exam is usually 60 to 90 minutes
Exam Results
After your exam, the radiologist will review your images and a report will be sent directly to your physician. Reports are available within 24 to 72 hours. |
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