Have an annual clinical breast examination by a doctor or nurse. (Preferably should be done close to the time of the mammogram.)
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Do breast self-examination every month.
What to Expect...
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Two images of each breast will be taken.
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To obtain diagnostic quality images it is essential to apply pressure to your breast while taking the images. The pressure may be uncomfortable.
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Your exam will take approximately 10-15 minutes.
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The technologist will review the images on the control viewing screen in the room before you leave.
After the Procedure...
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Your images will be review and a report will be rendered by a UCLA radiologist specializing in Breast Imaging. The results will be sent to your doctor and a follow-up letter to you.
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You may be called back for additional pictures to thoroughly evaluate any possible abnormality in your breast.
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At the time of the additional imaging, an ultrasound may also be performed to evaluate an abnormality.
Women having problems such as a lump, unsuual nipple discharge, localized breast pain, nipple retraction, dimple or skin thickening.
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May be a follow-up to a screening mammongram. Only one breast may be imaged.
What to Expect...
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Two standard views of each breast are taken first and then supplement them with additional views to target the area of concern.
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To obtain diagnostic quality images it is essential to apply pressure to your breast while taking the images. The pressure may be uncomfortable.
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Your exam will take approximately 30-45 minutes. The radiologist will review the images and may perform an ultrasound for further evaluation which will take additional time.
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In most case, the radiologist will review your study with you on the day of your exam.
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The results will be sent to your doctor and a follow-up letter to you confirming the information the radiologist provided on the day of your exam will be mailed to you.
After the Procedure...
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There are no restrictions placed on you after this procedure. You may eat or drive as normal.
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Follow-up with your physician for any additional workup.
Stereotactic Mammography Guided Breast Biopsy is considered a minimally invasive alternative to surgical biopsy. It is completed on an outpatient basis with a minimum of discomfort and recovery time. You will be awake throughout the procedure. Biopsies are the only definitive way to confirm that a breast abnormality is benign (non-cancerous) or not.
What to Expect...
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The procedure takes up to 2 hours.
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You will lie on your stomach on a special table with a hole througn which the breast is placed and aligned with the imaging unit beneath. The table will be elevated so the imaging physician and the technologist can work from below.
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The radiologist performing the procedure will have studied your mammogram to become familiar with the location of the abnormal tissue in your breast.
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A confirming x-ray is taken with you lying face down to insure that the breast is positioned correctly.
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The skin on your breast will be cleaned; then a local anesthetic is injected with very fine needle. You may feel a slight sting.
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Your breast will be slightly compressed, just as in a mammogram.
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A small nick is made in your skin and a thin, hollow needle is inserted through the nick. Because of the local anesthetic, most patients report only a small amount of discomfort.
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The radiologist will use the computerized imaging system to precisely guide the needle to the biopsy area where several small samples will be taken.
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When the radiologist has confirmed that adequate samples have been retrieved, a titanium clip will be deployed into the biopsy site. A set of stereo x-rays will be taken to confirm proper clip placement. This clip will mark the biopsy site for future reference.
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After the needle is removed, compression will be applied to stop bleeding and the site will be covered with sterile closer stripes. This procedure requires no stitches. An ice pack will also be applied.
After the Procedure...
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Before leaving the department, you'll be given instructions for biopsy aftercare that are specific to your individual needs. Your breast should heal quickly, leaving almost no sign of the procedure.
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If you have not been contacted within 4 days, please contact the physician who ordered the biopsy for results.
It is important to remember that 70% to 80% of all breast biopsies are benign (not cancer) and your breast abnormality presents no health risk.
Ultrasound Guided Breast Biopsy is considered a minimally invasive alternative to surgical biopsy to evaluate suspicious masses within the breast that are visible on ultrasound. It is completed on an outpatient basis with a minimum of discomfort and recovery time. You will be awake throughout the procedure. Biopsies are the only definitive way to confirm that a breast abnormality is benign (non-cancerous) or not.
What to Expect...
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The procedure takes up to 2 hours.
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You will lie on your back on the ultrasound procedure table. The table will be adjusted so the radiologist can work comfortably.
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The radiologist performing the procedure will have studied your mammogram and ultrasound to become familiar with the location of the abnormal tissue in your breast.
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A confirming ultrasound is taken with you lying in the correct position for the most direct access to the lesion.
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The skin on your breast will be cleaned; then a local anesthetic is injected with very fine needle. You may feel a slight sting.
•
A small nick is made in your skin and a thin, hollow needle is inserted through the nick. Because of the local anesthetic, most patients report only a small amount of discomfort.
•
The radiologist will use ultrasound to precisely guide the needle to the lesion where several small samples will be taken. Ultrasound provides real-time visualization of the needle placement.
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When the radiologist has confirmed that adequate samples have been retrieved, a titanium clip will be deployed into the biopsy site. This clip will mark the biopsy site for future reference.
•
After the needle is removed, compression will be applied to stop bleeding and the site will be covered with sterile closer stripes. This procedure requires no stitches. An ice pack will also be applied.
After the Procedure...
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Before leaving the department, you'll be given instructions for biopsy aftercare that are specific to your individual needs. Your breast should heal quickly, leaving almost no sign of the procedure.
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If you have not been contacted within 4 days, please contact the physician who ordered the biopsy for results.
It is important to remember that 70% to 80% of all breast biopsies are benign (not cancer) and your breast abnormality presents no health risk.
Cysts are fluid-filled masses that may or may not be palpable (palpable masses can be felt as a lump in the breast). Cysts are almost always benign (not cancer). Benign cysts are usually adequately diagnosed by the ultrasound examination as simple cyst (filled only with fluid).
Why Aspiration is Recommended...
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If the suspected cyst has an unusual appearance on ultrasound, it is aspirated to verify that it really is a benign cyst.
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Cyst aspiration may also be done for simple cysts that are bothersome to you because they are palpable (feel like a breast lump) or painful.
What to Expect...
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You will lie on your back on the ultrasound table and the cyst to be aspirated will be localized.
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The radiologist performing the procedure will have studied your mammogram and ultrasound to become familiar with the location of the abnormal tissue in your breast.
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The skin on your breast will be cleaned; then a local anesthetic is injected with very fine needle. You may feel a slight sting.
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A small nick is made in your skin and a thin, hollow needle is inserted through the nick. Because of the local anesthetic, most patients report only a small amount of discomfort.
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The radiologist will use ultrasound to precisely guide the needle into the cyst. Ultrasound provides real-time visualization of the needle and the cyst during the procedure.
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Ultrasound confirms the needle is within the cyst during aspiration.
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Ultrasound image is taken to document the fluid is removed.
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After the needle is removed, a band-aid is applied to the needle site before you are discharged from the department. This procedure requires no stitches.
Pre-surgical Needle-wire Location procedure is performed in order to identify the location of teh abnormality that may not be palpable to assist the surgeon in finding the area to excise. The procedure is performed with mammography or ultrasound guidance. The modality is pre-determined at the time of the pre-operative workup which may have included a mammogram, an ultrasound and needle biopsy.
What to Expect...
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The procedure will take approximately 60 minutes.
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You will report to the ambulatory surgical unit and from there you will be escorted to the Breast imaging department.
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You will be positioned in the mammogram machine and the area of concern will be localized easily from the clip placed after the needle biopsy.
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Mammogram pictures will be taken to confirm the location of the suspected abnormality.
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The skin on your breast will be cleaned; then a local anesthetic is injected with very fine needle. You may feel a slight sting.
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A small nick is made in your skin and a thin, hollow needle is inserted through the nick and guided to the lesion. Because of the local anesthetic, most patients report only a small amount of discomfort.
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A mammogram will be taken again to confirm the position of the needle. The needle is adjusted if necessary.
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A thin wire is threaded into the hollow needle. The end of the wire has a tiny fish hook that grabs the tissue to hold in place.
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The needle is removed and the wire is secured to the skin with gauze and tape.
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You will return to the surgery center.
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Ultrasound image is taken to document the fluid is removed.
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After the needle is removed, a band-aid is applied to the needle site before you are discharged from the department. This procedure requires no stitches.
Do not wear deodorant or powder because they will show up on the mammogram
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Since you will need to undress from the waist up, wearing a two piece outfit is recommended
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If you have had a previous mammogram taken outside UCLA Medical Center, Westwood or UCLA Santa Monica, you must bring the films with you to expedite the final interpretaion
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Pre-menopausal women with sensitive breasts should schedule their mammogram right after their period
