Breast Imaging

Digital Mammography

Mammography is an X-ray exam of the breasts used to screen for or diagnose breast cancer. Canoyon Vista Medical Center offers state-of-the-art digital imaging technology for mammograms. With digital technology, radiologists can zoom in on particular areas or change brightness or contrast for even greater visibility, and results can be read immediately.

3D Mammography

Tomosynthesis (TOMO) is a revolutionary 3-D breast cancer detection technology system which looks similar to a standard mammography machine and uses X-ray like the standard 2-D digital mammography. However, the tomosynthesis mammography camera moves in an arc over the breast taking 15 mini-pictures within 4 seconds. These multiple pictures create a layer-by-layer look of the breast tissue — 1mm at a time — removing tissue overlap that may hide cancers or mistake dense breast tissue as tumors. Breast tomosynthesis may be used in conjunction with traditional digital mammography as part of your annual screening mammogram to capture more breast images. Very low X-ray energy is used during the screening examination so your radiation exposure is safely below the American College of Radiology (ACR) guidelines.

Breast MRI

Breast MRI provides pictures of each breast, the chest wall, and the lymph nodes located under each arm. These high-resolution bilateral images have allowed specialists to make earlier and more accurate diagnoses. The breast MRI is used as a supplemental tool, in addition to digital mammography, to help diagnose breast disease. It is also useful in examining patients who have breast implants and the breast tissue surrounding the implants. Breast MRI provides in-depth breast images and is usually done when a physician needs additional information about a breast abnormality. Breast MRIs are not used in place of screening mammography, breast ultrasound, or a clinical breast exam.

Stereotactic Biopsy

Biopsy is the most widely accepted method for definitively determining the presence or absence of cancer following detection of a breast abnormality. This new technique called stereotactic biopsy, takes a very precise biopsy of an abnormality that was previously detected during a mammogram. The availability of stereotactic biopsy has significantly lowered the number of open surgical procedures performed over the last decade.

To schedule an exam please call 520.263.3900