Screening and Diagnostic Mammography Services

A variety of comprehensive breast and osteoporosis studies are performed at The Women’s Imaging Center at Saint Peter’s University Hospital. Our facility is certified by the American College of Radiology and all our technologists are ARRT certified in mammography. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. To accommodate patients who are not available during the week, we offer appointments for screening mammograms every other Saturday. Our modern facility and newly redesigned registration area ensure the comfort and ease of care of our patients.

The fact that your mammogram is read by at least two board certified radiologists, and processed through a CAD (computer-aided detection) system, makes our breast screening program unique. We call this a “triple check.” An assistant works in conjunction with the radiologists to ensure that your mammography report is completed and transcribed correctly.

We provide state-of-the-art screening mammography and diagnostic mammography services using our two newly-purchased Hologic Full Field Digital Mammography systems with computer-aided detection. Digital mammography facilitates early detection of breast cancer and allows for treatment at these early stages. The technique of digital mammography is similar to traditional film-screen mammography in that the positioning of the patient is the same. However, the way in which the image is produced and stored is completely different. A digital image is taken and easily visualized, within seconds, by the technologist. We utilize a PACS system (picture archiving and communication system) to store the mammography images which are easily accessed using a computer.

Diagnostic Breast Ultrasound is used to evaluate symptoms which include breast lumps or pain, or when an area of concern has been identified on a diagnostic mammogram. We have two soothing and comfortable ultrasound rooms that convey a sense of privacy and calmness during your exam. Services provided include ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy, cyst aspiration, and fine needle aspiration. We work closely with our Pathology Department when doing procedures such as aspirations in order to retrieve enough samples to make a diagnosis. This convenient access to the department during these procedures separates us from our competitors. For further information on ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, go to: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastbius

Our facility also performs stereotactic-guided breast biopsy procedures. This minimally-invasive procedure is performed by an interventional breast radiologist. Our nursing assistant and technologist create a comfortable and soothing environment using music to reduce anxiety and relax the patient during the visit. The procedure is performed by using a specially designed mammography table that uses digital imaging to pinpoint the exact location of the breast lesion from two different angles. This procedure is done with the utmost delicateness and precision to ensure a diagnosis and minimize discomfort. For further information on stereotactic-guided breast biopsy, please go to: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastbixr&bhcp=1