Breast imaging: Breast health - important self care

A screening mammogram is used to detect breast changes in patients who do not have signs or symptoms of breast cancer. Screening mammograms are proven to detect breast cancer early, when it is most treatable, and save lives. We use digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and/or full field digital mammography at our UW Health locations. Please call the specific location for more information. All women should talk to their doctor about when to have their first mammogram, especially if they are at high risk for breast cancer.

A radiology technologist specially trained in mammography takes mammogram images of your breasts. The technologist places each breast between two smooth flat plates. The plates gently compress the breast to get the highest quality images. The pressure might be slightly uncomfortable. Compression is brief, but important.

A radiologist views and interprets your breast images on specialized computer monitors.

At UW Health, we recommend these guidelines if you are at average risk for breast cancer. If you think you might be at high risk for developing breast cancer, please contact our PATHS clinic.

Age 40-49: Talk with your doctor at age 40. Understand your breast cancer risks. Know your preferences for breast cancer screening. Consider a screening mammogram every one to two years.

Age 50-74: Get a screening mammogram every one to two years.

Age 75 and older: Consider a screening mammogram every one to two years, based on your doctor’s recommendations.

This type of mammogram is most often performed for women with signs or symptoms of breast cancer to get more information after a screening mammogram shows an area of concern. A diagnostic mammogram includes additional images of the breast.

A diagnostic mammogram involves one or more special mammogram images taken from different angles. These allow detailed evaluation of an area of the breast. This test is often used for one of two reasons: a new clinical finding or an abnormal screening mammogram.

Breast ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create an image of the breast tissue. An ultrasound is used if there is a possible finding on a mammogram or if there is a symptom of breast cancer, such as a lump.

When breast cancer is possibility, a biopsy is often recommended. A biopsy is a tissue sample of the area of concern that will be sent for review by a Pathologist to confirm whether or not there is cancer present. Breast imaging Radiologists use images to guide them to the location of an abnormality to use biopsies. Ultrasound is often used to guide biopsy, but mammograms can also be used (called a stereotactic biopsy) and MRI can guide a biopsy as well. After tissue samples are taken, a tiny marker clip will be used to mark the location for future mammograms or surgery.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast is used for screening in some patients at increased risk for breast cancer and also to determine the extent of cancer in some patients who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Sometimes it is also used to find the source of a suspected cancer or to monitor response to therapy for breast cancer.

Abbreviated breast MRI (AB-MRI) is a shortened version of breast MRI that is designed to screen patients with dense breasts for additional breast cancers not seen on mammography. Traditional 2D mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis can miss invasive breast cancers in people with dense breast tissue, so AB-MRI provides a clearer picture for these patients, reducing the risk of a missed cancer diagnosis.