Breast Clinic

Services and Special Procedures


Mammogram is a low-dose x-ray picture of the breast.

Procedure
  • One of the patient’s breasts is placed on a clear plastic plate and gently, but firmly, pressed from another plate above her breast.
  • The plates flatten and keep it still, which helps produce a better mammogram image. The pressure lasts a few seconds and does not harm the breast.
  • The same steps are repeated with the other breast.
  • The plates of the machine are then tilted to take a side view of each breast.
  • A completed procedure results in two different x-rays of each breast, for a total of four x-rays.
Digital Mammogram
  • An x-ray procedure that is the best screening tool to detect early breast cancer in women
  • No preparation needed, and conducted on an out-patient basis
  • Patient should be conscious, awake and cooperative
  • Annual mammogram is recommended at the age of 40
  • Screening Mammogram
    • Mostly done as a routine study
    • Performed in women without any clinical signs and symptoms
    • Only four basic views are taken
  • Diagnostic Mammogram
    • Performed in women with clinical signs and symptoms and in patients who are at high risk (those with family history of breast cancer)
    • Aside from the four basic views, one or more views may be taken if necessary
Sonomammogram
  • A complimentary study to mammography
  • Characterizes clinically palpable or mammographically seen lesion, distinguishing it either as a solid or a cystic mass
  • No preparation needed
 
Special Procedures

  • Needle Wire Localization
    • Usually done an hour or two prior to surgical removal of a specific abnormality in the breast either under mammography or ultrasound guidance
    • Used as a guide for surgeons to the correct site of the target lesion within the breast, enabling them to successfully remove the suspicious abnormality
    • After the procedure, patient is brought to the operating room for the surgery
  • Percutaneous Core Needle Biopsy uses a large core needle to obtain breast tissue samples for histopathologic examination
  • Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) uses a fine needle to obtain fluid sample from a suspicious lesion or cyst for cytologic exam
  • Cyst Aspiration
    • Uses a small-gauged needle to aspirate fluid from a breast cyst (a fluid-filled sac inside the breast)
    • usually done to alleviate patient’s symptom from a large or palpable breast cyst
  • Galactography used to evaluate the involved ductal system of the patient’s breast complaining of nipple discharge. Discharge may either clear, straw-colored or bloody.
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