As a woman, you already know how important it is to stay on top of your breast health. Getting regular checkups and annual mammograms (for women over 40) can help you be on the lookout for breast cancer and take any necessary steps to prevent the disease.

The St.Vincent Breast Center is accredited by The American College of Radiology and certified by the Food and Drug Administration.

All St.Vincent technologists are mammography certified, and all radiologists are board certified in radiology with special interest in mammography. Radiologists are available for consultation throughout the day.

Get with the guidelines

According to recommendations from the American Cancer Society:

• Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast examination (CBE) by a health care professional every three years as part of their regular health exams.
• Women in their 20s and 30s also should perform breast self-examination (BSE) regularly.
• Women 40 and older should have a screening mammogram and CBE every year.
• Women who are at increased risk (say, if their mother or grandmother had breast cancer) should talk to their doctors about the benefits of starting mammography screenings earlier or having additional tests, such as breast ultrasounds or MRIs.

For more information or to schedule your next mammogram at the St.Vincent Breast Center, please call (317) 338-9595.

Scope of Services

The St.Vincent Breast Center provides the following breast care services:

Screening and Diagnostic Mammography

A screening mammogram is an X-ray of the breast used to detect breast changes in women who have no signs of breast cancer. A diagnostic mammogram is an X-ray of the breast that is used to diagnose unusual breast changes, such as a lump, pain, thickening, nipple discharge, or change in breast size or shape. A diagnostic mammogram may be necessary if it is difficult to obtain a clear X-ray with a screening mammogram because of special circumstances, such as breast implants.

Digital Mammography

Digital mammography is a technique for recording X-ray images in computer code instead of on X-ray film, as with conventional mammography. The images are displayed on a computer monitor and can be enhanced (lightened or darkened) before they are printed on film. The radiologist can magnify or zoom in on an area. Because the images can be adjusted by the radiologist, subtle differences between tissues may be noted. The first digital mammography system received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2000.

Breast Ultrasound

Ultrasound is an imaging technique in which high-frequency sound waves that cannot be heard by humans are bounced off tissues and internal organs. Ultrasound imaging of the breast is used to distinguish between solid tumors and fluid-filled cysts. Ultrasound can also be used to evaluate lumps that are hard to see on a mammogram. Ultrasound is not used for routine breast cancer screening because it does not consistently detect certain early signs of cancer such as microcalcifications (tiny deposits of calcium in the breast that cannot be felt but can be seen on a conventional mammogram). A cluster of microcalcifications may indicate that cancer is present.

Fine Needle and Cyst Aspiration

Fine needle aspiration is the removal of tissue or fluid with a needle for examination under a microscope to check for signs of disease. Simple aspirations are performed with a small gauge needle to attempt to draw fluid from lumps that are thought to be cysts. Fine needle biopsy uses a larger needle to make multiple passes through a lump, drawing out tissue and fluid. Withdrawn fluid and tissue is further evaluated to determine if there are cancerous cells present.

Ductograms

Ductal lavage (also called ductograms) is an investigational technique for collecting samples of cells from breast ducts for analysis under a microscope. Fluid, which contains cells from the duct, is withdrawn through a catheter. The cells are checked under a microscope to identify changes that may indicate cancer or changes that may increase the risk for breast cancer.

Ultrasound Core Biopsies

With ultrasound core biopsies, a large needle is inserted into the suspicious area using ultrasound. Tissue is gently vacuumed from the suspicious area. Additional tissue samples can be obtained by rotating the needle.

Stereotactic and Core Biopsies

Stereotactic refers to the use of a computer and scanning devices to create three-dimensional images. A stereotactic-guided biopsy involves the precise location of the abnormal area in three dimensions using conventional mammography. A needle is then inserted into the breast and a tissue sample is obtained. Additional samples can be obtained by moving the needle within the abnormal area.

Tumor (dye) Localization

Tumor localizations mark the surgical site for the breast surgeon. The breast area is numbered.  Under either mammography or ultrasound guidance, a thin wire is inserted and blue dye is injected into the breast.  The patient is sent to surgery where the markings provide a guided map for the breast surgeon to remove the tissue.