Clinical Breast Exam
Our specially trained providers will conduct a physical breast exam by hand during your visit. It is recommended that women as young as age 20 should receive a clinical breast exam every one to three years.
Mammogram
This low dose X-ray of the breast is used to detect any changes in the breast. An annual visit to Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center The Breast Center will include a screening or diagnostic mammogram.
-
Screening mammograms are designed for women with no symptoms of breast disease.
-
GeniusTM 3D MammographyTM, which provides a detailed, layer-by-layer images of breast tissue, allows for better detection of breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue.
-
Diagnostic mammograms are for women who have symptoms of breast disease, have detected a change in their breast tissue that requires further study or who have a history of breast disease.
Genetic Testing and Counseling
Women who meet certain criteria are encouraged to undergo
genetic testing and counseling to find out if they carry a mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. Our staff can help you determine whether or not you should have this genetic testing and receive counseling.
Breast Ultrasound
This procedure uses high-energy sound waves to form a picture of body tissue called a sonogram or ultrasonography. A breast ultrasound procedure is used to determine if an abnormality detected by mammography or a palpable lump is a fluid-filled cyst or a solid tumor (benign or malignant). Breast ultrasound may also be used to identify masses in women whose breast tissue is too dense to be measured accurately by mammography.
Breast MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the newest and most advanced type of breast imaging. This diagnostic procedure uses a large magnet, radio frequencies and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body. An MRI is recommended for further evaluation of abnormalities detected by mammography and for finding early breast cancers not detected by other tests, especially in women at high risk for cancer and women with dense breast tissue.
Breast Biopsy
Doctors often use a biopsy after finding signs of breast change. During a biopsy, the doctor removes some cells or tissue, an area of small calcium deposits or the whole lump. The tissue is sent to a lab, where a pathologist will check the cells for cancer or other diseases. Biopsies are the only way to find out if cells are cancerous.
The most common types of biopsies are:
- Fine-needle aspiration
- Core needle biopsy
- Surgical biopsy
We offer minimally invasive, image-guided core biopsies using stereotactic mammography, sonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide the sampling of tissue, making the process faster and more accurate.
