Mammography is the primary screening method for breast cancer and an important tool to guide biopsies of the breast. A dedicated machine, designed specifically for breast imaging, directs a low energy x-ray beam through the breast to produce very high definition images.

Mammography's primary benefit is in its ability to show with clarity the very small, delicate structures of breast tissue. In fact, mammography can show changes in the breast up to two years before a patient or physician can feel them. For this reason, the American Medical Association and the American College of Radiology recommend women have annual mammograms beginning at age 40.

EPIC Imaging has a long standing commitment to women's imaging and mammography. We were the first local facility to be accredited by the American College of Radiology. Later, when FDA certification came into existence, EPIC received this seal as well. All our mammography equipment is inspected annually by a physicist and meets or exceeds government standards for mammography quality and we employ a full staff of certified mammographic technologists.

Our equipment is the most advanced mammography technology available today:

The technology utilizes a low energy x-ray beam focused on a smaller target area than normal x-ray machines. Some of the x-rays are absorbed while others pass through the breast to an image receptor (either film or, in the case of digital, a computer). A very high definition image is produced.

To achieve the clarity necessary for proper screening, it is necessary to compress the breast to even out its thickness. This allows us to see small abnormalities that would otherwise be hidden by overlying breast tissue. Compression takes place by positioning the breast between the image receptor and a soft plastic compression paddle.

Since coming into being in the mid 1960's, mammography has saved countless lives through the early detection of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends all women have a baseline mammogram between the ages of 35 and 40. After 40, a woman should have a mammogram annually. When a radiologist "reads" or evaluates your exam, what he or she is doing is analyzing your current image in comparison to these past historical views.

Beyond screening, any woman who feels a lump or change in her breast should schedule an immediate diagnostic mammogram. This is a term used to describe a more extensive work-up of any area that needs further clarification. Breast cancer has an excellent 95%+ survival rate when caught early. Scheduling at the first sign of a problem is important.

Another important use for mammography is as a guide in biopsies. At EPIC, we frequently perform what is known as a stereotactic core biopsy. A special computer driven device is attached to the mammogram machine to help us locate with extreme accuracy the location and depth of the area being biopsied. Tissue samples are then taken with the aid of needle, a much less invasive alternative to surgical biopsy.

For more information on how to prepare for a mammogram click here.