The Breast Imaging Division includes fellowship-trained, diagnostic radiologists with expertise in all aspects of breast imaging. This encompasses screening and diagnostic mammography, tomosynthesis, high-resolution breast ultrasound, ductography, image-guided core and vacuum-assisted needle biopsy, breast lesion localization using wires or radioactive seeds, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission mammography (PEM). 

Mission

Patient Care

Our division is a national leader in the use of radioactive seeds for localizing small breast cancers for surgical removal. For many years, hook wires have been used, but now a tiny radioactive seed makes the procedure much more comfortable and trouble-free for the patient.

Bringing the latest in technology and providing the highest level of patient care are our top priorities. Exams are easily scheduled and performed promptly, and all diagnostic mammography and ultrasound results are provided to the patient at the time of service.

Research

Clinical trials performed in the Breast Imaging Division have led to important innovative discoveries. Digital mammography was found to be more sensitive than film mammography for cancer detection in women with dense breasts (ACRIN DMIST 6652). This led to widespread use of digital mammography in more than 85 percent of facilities in the country.

Moreover, studies here determined that by combining screening ultrasound and digital mammography, 46 percent more cancers were detected than with mammography alone in women with dense breasts and other factors increasing their risk of developing breast cancer (ACRIN 6666). This study also revealed that even more early cancers could be found in this group of women by utilizing MRI for screening. 

Our division also participated in the multicenter trial that led to FDA approval of breast tomosynthesis, a 3-D mammogram with exquisite detail that has the advantage of increasing the cancer detection rate and decreasing the recall rate (false positives) with screening. Tomosynthesis is also quite useful for diagnostic mammography in women with an abnormal screening mammogram, breast lump, and/or nipple discharge.

Education

The Breast Imaging Division provides clinical and academic training for residents and fellows in the Department of Radiology. Our one-year Breast Imaging Fellowship training program is intended to prepare radiologists for successful careers in either academic or private practice settings by progressively training them to manage a full-service breast center.