| Screening
Mammogram |
| • PREP: |
 |
Do not use any lotion,
deodorant or body powder around the breasts or under your
arms, or you may wash it off when you arrive. |
| |
At the time your appointment
is scheduled, you will be asked if you have had previous
mammograms at another facility. If so, please have that
facility's name, address & telephone number available. |
| |
Wear a 2-piece outfit so
that you can easily undress from the waist up. |
| |
Notify the
technologist if there is a possibility that you could
be pregnant. |
| |
Arrive 20 minutes before
appointment time to complete registration. |
| • WHAT TO EXPECT: |
|
|
Once in the Mammography
Room you will be asked to change into a special mammography
gown. |
|
|
Two different x-ray images
of each breast will be obtained. During this time firm,
but not excessive, compression will be applied to your
breasts in order to obtain the highest quality images. |
|
|
Once the technologist performs
a quality verification on the films, you will be able
to leave. Your study will be read later in that day. It
is possible that the doctor reading your exam will want
you to return for "special views"; this is not
out of the ordinary and should not necessarily be a cause
for concern. If that is the case, you will be contacted
and an appointment made for you within the next 2 weeks. |
|
Total estimated time of
procedure: 20 minutes. |
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| Diagnostic
Mammogram |
| • PREP: |
|
Do not use lotion, deodorant
or body powder around the breasts or under your arms,
or you may wash it off when you arrive. |
|
At the time your appointment
is scheduled, you will be asked if you have had previous
mammograms at another facility. If so, please have that
facility's name, address & telephone number available. |
|
Wear a 2-piece outfit so
that you can easily undress from the waist up. |
|
Notify the technologist
if there is a possibility that you could be pregnant. |
|
Arrive 20 minutes before
your appointment time to complete registration. |
| • WHAT TO EXPECT: |
|
Once in the Mammography
Room you will be asked to change into a special mammography
gown. |
|
A number of different x-ray
images will be taken of your breast (both breasts, if
so ordered). During this time firm, but not excessive,
compression will be applied to your breast(s) in order
to obtain the highest quality images. |
|
Upon completion of the
filming, you will be asked to wait while a radiologist
reviews your images. The radiologist may order additional
ultrasound images at this time. |
|
At the end of the exam,
you will be given your results (providing your referring
physician has granted us permission to share the results
with you). |
|
Total estimated time of
procedure: 30-45 minutes. |
| |
|
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| Ductogram |
| • PREP: |
|
At the time your appointment
is scheduled, you will be asked if you have had a previous
mammogram at another facility. If so, please have that
facility's name, address, and telephone number available.
If you have access to the actual films, please bring them
with you. |
|
Wear a 2-piece outfit so
that you can easily undress from the waist up. |
|
Notify the technologist
if there is a possibility that you could be pregnant. |
|
Arrive 20 minutes before
appointment time to complete registration. |
| • WHAT TO EXPECT: |
|
Once in the
Mammography Room you will be asked to change into a special
mammography gown. |
|
The breast to be examined
will be checked for a discharge & cleansed with an
alcohol swab. |
|
The skin will be anesthetized
and the radiologist will insert a needle into the duct
in question. A contrast material will then be injected
into the duct (you may experience some short, mild discomfort
during the injection). |
|
X-ray images are obtained
of the contrast-filled duct. |
|
After the images are reviewed
by the radiologist, the results will be discussed with
you. Treatment options will be decided by you and your
physician. |
|
Total estimated time of
procedure: 45-60 minutes.
|
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| Stereotactic
Biopsy |
| • PREP: |
|
Wear a 2-piece outfit so
that you can easily undress from the waist up. |
|
Notify the technologist
if there is a possibility that you could be pregnant. |
|
Arrive 20 minutes before
appointment time to complete registration. |
|
It is best to have someone
with you who can drive you home. It is possible that you
will be given medication that would inhibit your ability
to drive. |
| • WHAT TO EXPECT: |
|
Once in the Mammography
Room you will be asked to change into a special mammography
gown. |
|
You will have your temperature
and blood pressure taken. |
|
You will be asked to lie
face-down on a special x-ray table with the breast to
be biopsied protruding through an opening in the table. |
|
After the application of
some mild compression, x-ray images will be obtained to
determine the exact area for biopsy. |
|
Local anesthesia will be
administered. Tissue samples will be obtained using a
Mammotome™ biopsy instrument. |
|
Once the tissue sampling
is complete, a very small metal clip may be inserted into
your breast to mark the exact location of the biopsy. |
|
Your skin will again be
cleansed and Steri-strips applied, along with ice (you
will be asked to keep the area iced until evening). |
|
Do not drive yourself home
if you have been advised against it or if you feel unable. |
|
Lab results from the tissue
samples will be available to your referring physician
in 2-3 working days. |
|
Total estimated time of
procedure: 1 hour. |
| |
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|
Needle
Localization
|
| • PREP: |
|
Wear something 2-piece
with a top that opens in the front. |
|
Follow your surgeon's instructions. |
| • WHAT TO EXPECT: |
|
Upon arrival at XRC Medical
Imaging, you will be taken directly into a Mammography
Room. |
|
You will be seated in a
special chair & positioned as needed to perform the
procedure. |
|
The area of concern will
be identified using x-ray images. |
|
Your skin will be anesthetized
prior to the insertion of a small needle. |
|
Once the needle is in the
exact area of concern, a fine wire is passed through the
needle, then the needle is removed. |
|
Follow-up x-ray images
are taken to document the correct location of the wire. |
|
Steri-strips are applied
to secure the wire in place; gauze is used to cover the
entire area. |
|
You will then be escorted
back to the Surgery Center for your surgery appointment. |
|
While you are in surgery,
tissue that is removed will be brought back to XRC Medical
Imaging for a "specimen radiograph", so as to
ensure that the area in concern was indeed removed. |
|
Total time of procedure
(at XRC Medical Imaging): 30-45 minutes. |
| |
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| Cyst
Aspirations |
| •
PREP: |
|
At the time
your appointment is scheduled, you will be asked if you
have had previous mammograms at another facility. If so,
please have that facility's name, address & telephone
number available. |
|
Wear a 2-piece outfit so
that you can easily undress from the waist up. |
|
Notify the technologist
if there is a possibility that you could be pregnant. |
|
Arrive 20 minutes before
appointment time to complete registration. |
| •
WHAT TO EXPECT: |
|
Once in the
Mammography Room you will change into a special mammography
gown. |
|
Depending
on whether x-ray or ultrasound is to be used, you will
either be sitting or lying down. |
|
Your skin
will be cleansed and a local anesthetic administered by
the radiologist. |
|
A needle is
inserted under either x-ray or ultrasound guidance. Once
centered in the cyst, fluid from the cyst is withdrawn.
This fluid may be sent to the Lab for analysis, at the
radiologist's discretion. |
|
The needle
will be withdrawn & the skin again cleansed. |
|
Total estimated
procedure time: 30-45 minutes. |
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