Our breast imaging exams and procedures
Penn Breast Radiology is a Center of Excellence as determined and accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR). This gold seal of approval means we meet rigorous quality and safety standards in every aspect of breast radiology: mammograms, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy.
Mammography uses X-rays to create pictures of your breasts. Mammography is the standard of care for screening for breast cancer, which means detecting changes in breast tissue before symptoms appear.
At Penn Medicine, all our mammograms are three-dimensional (3D). A 3D mammogram, also called digital breast tomosynthesis, provides a way to see different layers in the breast tissue better than a standard 2D mammogram, to help catch small tumors or other subtle abnormalities earlier. In some cases we use mammography to guide breast biopsy procedures.
A breast ultrasound uses a special computer and sound waves, not radiation, to create images of breast tissue. Ultrasound complements mammography. We may recommend a breast ultrasound to examine changes in breast tissue, or lumps that might not show up on a mammogram, or masses to determine if they are solid or fluid-filled cysts.
A breast ultrasound can also be used to screen for breast cancer for women with dense breast tissue, which can make tumors difficult to see on X-rays. In some cases, we use ultrasound imaging to guide breast biopsy procedures.
A breast MRI uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to produce pictures of breast tissue. Unlike an X-ray, MRI doesn’t use ionizing radiation but it does require an injection of a contrast dye during your exam, which makes cancer light up in more detail on the scan.
We may recommend a breast MRI if you:
- Are at high risk for breast cancer due to family history or genetics
- Have dense breast tissue and other risk factors for breast cancer
- Have concerning symptoms, such as a nipple discharge
- Have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer
A breast biopsy is a procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from an abnormality in your breast. A pathologist examines it under a microscope to look for cancer.
At Penn Medicine, we use every available imaging technique, such as mammography, ultrasound and MRI, to guide biopsy procedures for better precision and accuracy.
Types of breast biopsies we perform include:
- Core needle biopsy: uses a local anesthetic and a needle to remove a solid tissue sample from an abnormality. We do this with mammography, ultrasound and MRI.
- Fine needle aspiration: uses a local anesthetic and a thin needle to remove fluid or cells from an abnormality. We do this with ultrasound.
- Lymph node biopsy: uses a local anesthetic and imaging to remove a core sample or aspiration from a lymph node to check for cancer