Breast Diagnostic Services

Kelsey-Seybold Clinic provides some of the most accurate and least invasive breast cancer screening and diagnostic procedures available. These include:

• Digital Mammography – Compared to film screen mammography, digital mammography offers potential and practical advantages, which may allow better cancer detection. It provides precise and rapid scans, has less radiation exposure to patients, and shortens turnaround times for less anxiety while waiting for results.
• Breast Ultrasound – If a suspicious lump is found during a screening exam, a breast ultrasound may be used for more detail. Ultrasounds can identify whether an area of concern may be cyst-like or solid, requiring additional testing.
• Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy – This is an outpatient procedure that requires injection of a local anesthetic (lidocaine) into the breast. The radiologist, constantly monitoring the lesion site with an ultrasound probe, will insert a needle and advance it to the area of concern. Tissue samples will be taken or fluid withdrawn. Following this minimally invasive technique, heavy lifting (10 pounds or over) and strenuous activity should be avoided for 24 hours.
• Stereotactic Breast Biopsy – This is an outpatient procedure that uses digital mammography technology to zero in on extremely small irregularities in the breast. Small tissue samples are removed. A small marker may be placed at the site so it can be identified in the future, if necessary. Following this minimally invasive procedure, heavy lifting (10 pounds or over) and strenuous activity should be avoided for 24 hours.
• Breast MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – During this noninvasive scan using magnetic fields to produce resonance images, an intravenous (IV) line is inserted into the hand or arm for the contrast material (gadolinium or iodine) to be given intravenously. A breast MRI is typically used to assess abnormalities detected by mammography or ultrasound. Other reasons to use breast MRI might be to:
  • Evaluate multiple tumor locations
  • Identify early breast cancer not detected through other means
  • Distinguish between scar tissue and recurrent tumors
  • Determine whether cancer detected by mammography, ultrasound, or after surgical biopsy has spread further in the breast or into the chest wall
  • Assess the effect of chemotherapy or determine the integrity of breast implants

When cancer is suspected, patient files are escalated to a team of Kelsey-Seybold healthcare professionals, including a designated nurse, radiologist, and surgeon, who will fully discuss and coordinate the next steps in your personalized treatment and care. Treatment options may include:

• Surgery: lumpectomy, mastectomy, and breast restoration
• Medical Oncology: chemotherapy and hormone therapy medicines
• Radiation Oncology: the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors