Advanced Diagnostics

Our medical center, equipped with leading-edge technology, is committed to offering the most current advances in patient screening and treatment.

A breast biopsy is a simple procedure that involves sampling tissue from an area of concern within the breast.  As an alternative to open surgical biopsy, the Breast Center offers minimally invasive breast biopsy procedures performed with ultrasound or mammographic guidance. We use a special vacuum-assisted needle to obtain multiple tissue samples through one small skin incision.  One of three imaging methods is employed—stereotactic biopsy, ultrasound biopsy or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Bone density scanning, also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or bone densitometry, is an enhanced form of x-ray technology that is used to measure bone loss. DXA is today's established standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD).

DXA is most often performed on the lower spine and hips. In children and some adults, the whole body is sometimes scanned. Peripheral devices that use x-ray or ultrasound are sometimes used to screen for low bone mass. In some communities, a CT scan with special software can also be used to diagnose or monitor low bone mass (QCT). This provides an accurate reading but is less commonly used than DXA scanning.

DXA scans are used to diagnose osteoporosis before fractures occur, predict the chances of future bone fractures, determine the rate of bone loss and monitor the effects of bone replacement therapy.

High-resolution breast ultrasound is used to provide a more definitive diagnosis in conjunction with mammography. Sonography is directed to areas of mammographic abnormality or symptomatic areas of the breast. Ultrasound is also used to differentiate cysts from solid masses and can be used to guide breast biopsies. In addition, breast ultrasound is often used in place of mammography for women who are pregnant or under the traditional screening age in order to minimize exposure to radiation.

Stereotactic biopsy use two-directional mammographic digital images to accurately locate breast abnormalities.  This technique is most frequently used for biopsy of calcifications or lesions that are apparent on the mammogram, but not on the ultrasound. The procedure requires local anesthesia and only low-dose radiation.

Ultrasound biopsies use high-frequency sound waves to create detailed breast tissue images.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses a specialized imaging magnet to create a high-resolution image using microscopic chemical and physical information about breast tissue molecules.

The Breast Center also uses the Hologic CAD R2 Image Checker, a computer-aided detection system for mammography. R2 Image Checker is the first CAD application designed for full-field digital mammography and assists our physicians by providing a “second read” on every mammogram. The R2 Image Checker identifies areas detected by the computer algorithm that may require further evaluation by our radiologist, significantly improving early detection and survival rates.

Annual screening mammography remains the only scientifically proven life saving imaging modality for the detection of breast cancer, reducing breast cancer mortality up to 40%.  At the Breast Center, we perform full-field digital mammography (FFDM) studies, which decrease radiation exposure by up to 40% over standard mammography. Digital mammography provides immediate images without film and enhances the ability to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. It gives our physicians the ability to change contrast, adjust brightness, and zoom in to help pinpoint abnormalities that might not otherwise be seen, including those that are very small. In addition, the use of FFDM often results in the reduction of retakes.