Breast Imaging

Breast MRI 
Advanced technology is used to detect breast cancer and other abnormalities in the breast. Breast MRI is performed when your physician needs more information than a mammogram, ultrasound, or clinical exam can provide.

Comprehensive breast health services and state-of-the-art equipment:

• Digital mammography
• iCAD computer aided detection
• Stereotactic breast biopsy
• Filmless interpretation and image storage
• On-site lab and surgical services
• Follow-up care with a nurse navigator

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• Mammography is a special type of x-ray that is tuned to detect breast abnormalities.
• Mammography is performed both as a screening test (recommended annually for women over 40 and earlier in certain cases) and as a diagnostic test (when a closer look is needed or a specific clinical issue exists).
• All mammography at McLaren Northern Michigan is 100% digital, which translates to better detection of abnormalities in women with dense breast tissue.
• Your exam will be read by a specially trained breast radiologist.
• A screening mammogram takes about 15 minutes. A diagnostic exam will take longer and may include using ultrasound to get another view.
• Please do not use deodorants, antiperspirants, powders, or ointments as they can show up and cause confusion in the images.
• The trained professional performing your exam, called a mammographer, will work with you to properly position and compress your breasts which is crucial for obtaining high-quality images.
• The mammographer will check the images immediately for quality.
• For a screening mammogram, the results will be sent to you and your physician.
• For a diagnostic mammogram, your results will be communicated to you following the exam, and, if needed, a multidisciplinary team will coordinate the next steps in your care.

Computer Aided Detection (CAD) is used at McLaren Northern Michigan and can be applied to mammography exams to help radiologists identify and mark regions of interest that are potentially indicative of cancer.

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Diagnostic mammography is used to evaluate patients with abnormal clinical findings, such as a breast lump or lumps that have been detected by the patient or her physician. Diagnostic mammography may also be used after an abnormal screening mammogram in order to determine the cause of the area of concern on the screening exam.

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• Discussion: Prior to your mammogram, discuss any new findings, prior surgeries, hormone use, and family or personal history of breast cancer with your physician.
  
  
• What to wear: On the day of the exam, do not use deodorants, antiperspirants, powders, or ointments since these can show up and be confusing on the mammogram. Since you will need to undress from the waist up, a two-piece outfit is recommended.
  
  
• What to bring: If possible, obtain prior mammograms and make them available to the radiologist at the time of the current exam. You will be asked a number of important questions about your medical history so that we can assess your breast cancer risk.

• Preparation: You will be given a gown and asked to remove your clothing from the waist up. You will be escorted into the mammography room. If you have not had a mammogram before, the mammographer will explain the procedure. If you have any scars on your breasts, breast implants or skin irritations, particularly underneath your breast in the fold where the breast attaches to the chest, please point them out to the mammographer.
  
  
• Breast compression: It is very important that you work with the mammographer to ensure that your breast is as far into the machine as possible so that the tissues deep in the breast can be examined. Your breast will be placed on a special platform and gradually compressed with a paddle (often made of Plexiglas or other plastic).
  
  You will feel pressure on your breast as it is squeezed by the compressor. Some women with sensitive breasts may experience discomfort. If this is the case, schedule the procedure when your breasts are least tender. Be sure to inform the mammographer if pain occurs as compression is increased. If discomfort is significant, less compression will be used.
  
  Breast compression is necessary in order to:
  •    Even out the breast thickness so that all of the tissue can be visualized.
  •    Spread out the tissue so that small abnormalities won't be obscured by overlying breast tissue.
  •    Allow the use of a lower x-ray dose because a thinner amount of breast tissue is being imaged.
  •    Hold the breast still in order to eliminate blurring of the image caused by motion.
  •    Reduce x-ray scatter to increase sharpness of picture.
  
  
• Scanning: You will be asked to change positions slightly between images. Routine views are a top-to-bottom view and an oblique side view. The process will be repeated for the other breast. The mammographer will walk behind a wall or into the next room to activate the x-ray machine. The x-ray beam will remain on for a few seconds at most. You may hear a whining noise that persists even after the x-ray is turned off. This is just a mechanical part of the tube that spins at high speed and does not stop immediately even though no more x-rays are being produced.

• Instructions: When the examination is complete, you will be asked to wait until the mammographer determines that the images are of high enough quality for the radiologist to read.
  
  
• Exam results: All Breast Imaging exams at McLaren Northern Michigan are interpreted by a radiologist. Under normal circumstances the reports are available electronically to the ordering physician within 24 hours. Your referring physician will communicate these results to you.