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Mammography is a non-invasive radiological examination of the breast using a special imaging device. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, is used to aid in the diagnosis of breast diseases in women.
Mammograms are used as a screening tool to detect early breast cancer in women with no symptoms and to detect and diagnose breast disease in women experiencing symptoms such as a lump, pain or nipple discharge.
There are different mammogram exams and procedures performed here at University Imaging Center. These exams and procedures include:
A screening mammogram is a diagnostic tool used for the early detection of breast cancers because it can show changes in the breast up to two years before a patient or physician can feel the lump. Screening mammography should be done annually beginning at the age of 40, unless there is a strong family history of breast cancer.
Who performs the procedure?
The procedure is performed by a Technologist with the assistance of a Radiologist.
Why is the procedure performed?
The procedure is performed to aid in the early detection of breast cancer.
Where is this procedure performed?
This procedure is performed in the Mammography Department of UIC, located at 419 West Redwood St., Suite 110, Baltimore, MD 21201.
Is there any prep for this procedure?
There is to be no perfumes, powder or deodorant applied on the day of the exam until your exam is complete.
What can I expect before the procedure?
Once you arrive at UIC, you will have to register at the front desk. Please have your insurance information ready at this time. After registration, you will be directed to the mammography department where you will be instructed to remove everything from the waist up. Please wear a skirt or slacks to facilitate the change of clothes.
What can I expect during the procedure?
During the procedure, your breast will be placed on a special platform and compressed with a paddle that is often mad of Plexiglas or another plastic. The technologist will gradually compress your breast. You will need to hold very still and may be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds while the x-ray picture is taken to reduce the possibility of a blurred image. The technologist will walk behind the control panel to activate the x-ray machine.
How long is the procedure?
Plan to be in the office for one hour.
What can I expect after the procedure?
After the procedure, you will be asked to wait so the technologist can check the quality of your images. If your images are sufficient, then you will be free to leave and resume normal activity.
Are there any risks to this procedure?
There is a very low risk that one may have from the exposure to radiation.
Are there any alternatives to this procedure?
A MRI can be used as an alternative to this procedure.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Please call 410-328-3225 for a UIC Receptionist or 410-328-6281/8313 for a Breast Imaging Specialist to schedule your appointment.
Diagnostic mammography is a tool used to evaluate a patient with abnormal clinical findings, such as a breast lump or lumps that have been found by the patient or her doctor. Diagnostic mammography may also be done after an abnormal screening mammography in order to determine the cause of the area of concern on the screening exam.
Who performs the procedure?
The procedure is performed by a Technologist with the assistance of a Radiologist.
Why is the procedure performed?
The procedure is performed to aid in the early detection of breast cancer.
Where is this procedure performed?
This procedure is performed in the Mammography Department of UIC, located at 419 West Redwood St., Suite 110, Baltimore, MD 21201.
Is there any prep for this procedure?
There is to be no perfumes, powder or deodorant applied on the day of the exam until your exam is complete.
What can I expect before the procedure?
Once you arrive at UIC, you will have to register at the front desk. Please have your insurance information ready at this time. After registration, you will be directed to the mammography department where you will be instructed to remove everything from the waist up. Please wear a skirt or slacks to facilitate the change of clothes.
What can I expect during the procedure?
During the procedure, your breast will be placed on a special platform and compressed with a paddle that is often mad of Plexiglas or other plastic. The technologist will gradually compress your breast. You will need to hold very still and may be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds while the x-ray picture is taken to reduce the possibility of a blurred image. The technologist will walk behind the control panel to activate the x-ray machine.
How long is the procedure?
Plan to be in the office for one hour.
What can I expect after the procedure?
After the procedure, you will be asked to wait so the technologist can check the quality of your images. If your images are sufficient, then you will be free to leave and resume normal activity.
Are there any risks to this procedure?
There is a very low risk that one may have from the exposure to radiation.
Are there any alternatives to this procedure?
AMRI can be used as an alternative to this procedure.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Please call 410-328-3225 for a UIC Receptionist or 410-328-6281/8313 for a Breast Imaging Specialist to schedule your appointment.
A core needle biopsy is a procedure that removes small samples of breast tissue using a hollow core needle.
Who performs the procedure?
The procedure is performed by a Radiologist with the assistance of a Technologist.
Why is the procedure performed?
The procedure is performed when there is a mass detected in the breast. It usually allows for a more accurate assessment of a breast mass to determine if it is benign or malignant.
Where is this procedure performed?
This procedure is performed in the Mammography Department of UIC, located at 419 West Redwood St., Suite 110, Baltimore, MD 21201.
Is there any prep for this procedure?
To prepare for a core needle biopsy, you should eat a light meal prior to the procedure. You should not wear any perfumes, powder or deodorant on the day of the exam. If you take blood thinners or aspirin, talk to your physician about whether you should discontinue using them prior to the procedure.
What can I expect before the procedure?
Once you arrive at UIC, you will have to register at the front desk. Please have your insurance information ready at this time. After registration, you will be directed to the mammography department where you will be instructed to remove everything from the waist up. Please wear a skirt or slacks to facilitate the change of clothes.
What can I expect during the procedure?
First, the breast area is anesthetized with an injection of lidocaine. Then, a needle is placed into the breast with the patient lying down. The radiologist or surgeon will guide the needle into the area of concern by palpating (feeling) the lump. If the lump is non-palpable (cannot be felt), the core needle biopsy is performed under image-guidance.
How long is the procedure?
Plan to be in the office for one hour.
What can I expect after the procedure?
After the procedure, you may feel a little breast discomfort around the site and some bruising may occur. Your results will be sent to your doctor.
Are there any risks to this procedure?
This procedure only removes a sample of a mass and not the entire area of concern. Therefore, it is possible that a more serious diagnosis may be missed by limiting the sampling of a mass.
Are there any alternatives to this procedure?
Fine needle aspiration provides an alternative to this procedure.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Please call a UIC Receptionist at 410-328-3225 or a Breast Imaging Specialist at 410-328-6281/8313 to schedule your appointment.
The stereotactic biopsy procedure obtains samples of tissue from the mass with a hollow needle and the help of x-rays.
Who performs the procedure?
The procedure is performed by a Radiologist with the assistance of a Technologist.
Why is the procedure performed?
The procedure is performed when there is a mass detected in the breast with a mammogram. The physician and the patient may not want to perform a surgical method to sample to mass, so they will opt to perform this procedure.
Where is this procedure performed?
This procedure is performed in the Mammography Department of UIC, located at 419 West Redwood St., Suite 110, Baltimore, MD 21201.
Is there any prep for this procedure?
To prepare for a stereotactic biopsy, you should eat a light meal prior to the procedure. You should not wear any perfumes, powder or deodorant on the day of the exam. If you take blood thinners or aspirin, talk to your physician about whether you should discontinue using them prior to the procedure.
What can I expect before the procedure?
Once you arrive at UIC, you will have to register at the front desk. Please have your insurance information ready at this time. After registration, you will be directed to the mammography department where you will be instructed to remove everything from the waist up. Please wear a skirt or slacks to facilitate the change of clothes.
What can I expect during the procedure?
First, the breast area is anesthetized with an injection of lidocaine. You will be lying on your stomach and then the x-rays will begin. The first x-ray locates the abnormality in the breast, after which two stereo views are obtained; each angled 15 degrees to either side of the initial image. The physician then marks the lesion electronically on the stereo images. The computer calculates how much the lesion's position appears to have changed on each of the stereo views, and in this way is able to determine its exact site in three-dimensional space. The biopsy instrument used in this procedure is called a vacuum-assisted device (VAD), which consists of an inner needle with a trough extending from it at one end and an overlying sheath. When the sheath is retracted, a vacuum is used to pull breast tissue into the needle trough. The outer sheath rapidly moves forward to cut the tissue and collect it in the trough.
How long is the procedure?
Plan to be in the office for one hour.
What can I expect after the procedure?
After the biopsy, the skin opening is covered with a dressing. You will need to avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours after returning home, but then usually will be able to resume normal activity. Your results will be sent to your doctor.
Are there any risks to this procedure?
This procedure only removes samples of a mass and not the entire area of concern. Therefore, it is possible that a more serious diagnosis may be missed by limiting the sampling of a mass.
Are there any alternatives to this procedure?
Fine needle aspiration or core needle biopsy can be used as alternatives to this procedure.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Please call a UIC Receptionist at 410-328-3225 or a Breast Imaging Specialist at 410-328-6281/8313 to schedule your appointment.
Needle localization is a procedure done prior to a breast biopsy or breast surgery to locate a breast abnormality that can be seen on a mammogram, but cannot be felt. It is also used to verify the location of an already diagnosed breast cancer.
Who performs the procedure?
The procedure is performed by a Radiologist with the assistance of a Technologist.
Why is the procedure performed?
The procedure is performed when there is a mass detected in the breast with a mammogram. A physician and the patient may not want to perform a surgical method to sample to mass, so they will opt to perform this procedure.
Where is this procedure performed?
This procedure is performed in the Mammography Department of UIC, located at 419 West Redwood St., Suite 110, Baltimore, MD 21201.
Is there any prep for this procedure?
You should not wear any perfumes, powder or deodorant on the day of the exam. If you take blood thinners or aspirin, talk to your physician about whether you should discontinue using them prior to the procedure.
What can I expect before the procedure?
Once you arrive at UIC, you will have to register at the front desk. Please have your insurance information ready at this time. After registration, you will be directed to the mammography department where you will be instructed to remove everything from the waist up. Please wear a skirt or slacks to facilitate the change of clothes.
What can I expect during the procedure?
Needle localization is done in the mammogram room before a breast biopsy or breast surgery. By using the mammogram machine or ultrasound, the radiologist is able to decide where to place the needle. Your breast will be cleansed with a cool antiseptic (cleansing) solution. A small amount of local anesthetic may be injected to numb the skin before the needle is placed. Then a thin needle is then inserted into the breast down to the abnormal area. Most women experience some pressure when the locating needle goes in. Another mammogram is taken to check the accuracy of the needle position. The radiologist then removes the thin needle, leaving the thread-like wire hooked in place. The wire will be taped as securely as possible to avoid it being dislodged, but you should be careful with movement of your arm.
How long is the procedure?
Plan to be in the office for one hour.
What can I expect after the procedure?
After the wire is in place, you will be taken to an operating room or a procedure room where a breast biopsy will be done. You will receive either general anesthetic or local freezing for the procedure. Your surgeon will then remove the entire wire with tissue around it for examination. The breast tissue is usually sent to be x-rayed to confirm that the abnormality has been removed. The tissue is sent to a lab where a pathologist carefully examines it. This examination requires several days to be completed. Your doctor will receive the results.
Are there any risks to this procedure?
Guide wires may be dislodged or migrate prior to surgery.
Are there any alternatives to this procedure?
No alternatives are available for this procedure
How do I schedule an appointment?
To schedule an appointment, please call 410-328-3225 for a UIC Receptionist or 410-328-6281/8313 for a Breast Imaging Specialist.
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