Breast Imaging

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Overview

Luminis Health Imaging offers a range of breast imaging services to make it easier to take good care of yourself. All with the comfort and compassionate care you need. Our seamless, one-stop approach is unique — award-winning, in fact.

What are the Tests Used in Breast Imaging?

We use four different radiology tests to understand what is going on with your breast tissue. They include

MRI
Ultrasound
Mammography
Biopsy

Our imaging team works closely with you and your doctor to determine the best test.

overview

Why Choose Luminis Health for Breast Imaging?

We bring together all the radiology expertise and equipment you need in one spot. We're the first center in Maryland to receive the prestigious title of "Breast Imaging Center of Excellence" by the American College of Radiology. We're proud of this. It shows how we strive daily to give our patients the best imaging experience.

We make sure you get the test that's most likely to find the answer you need — with the lowest radiation dose possible.

We also offer 3D mammography. This improves image quality and cuts down on extra testing from unclear test results.

You can book your breast imaging appointment easily online. If you're a Luminis Health patient, we'll load up your results to your MyChart profile. This helps ensure all your doctors have access to the same information. Efficient, simple and reliable, from booking to results — refreshingly easy for you.

diagnosis-treatments

Diagnosis & Treatments

MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to tell the difference between normal tissue and a tumor.

Doctors recommend MRIs to help diagnose a lump in the breast. It's also used after a breast cancer diagnosis to see whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the breast.

An MRI test doesn't use radiation and is very safe. You'll be glad to know it's also completely painless.

For a breast MRI, you lie face down on the table and place the breast into an opening. The machine passes underneath the table. To make you more comfortable, we provide pillows and earplugs. (Some find the machine loud.) If you're feeling anxious about your MRI for any reason, let us know before your test so we can help.

Certain metal implants make MRIs risky. Before an MRI, we call you to go through a checklist to make sure the test is safe for you.

This imaging test isn't just for looking in the uterus — it can help diagnose a breast lump, too. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the tissues in the body. Ultrasound is a great way to see if a lump is fluid-filled (not cancer) or solid (possibly cancer).

For this test, you sit or lie back on a padded examining table. The technologist applies some gel (to help the sound waves travel). Then the technologist runs the ultrasound wand over your skin. The gel is a bit cool, but that's really the only downside. It's a simple and painless test.

There are two types of mammography. A screening mammography is a routine test to look for cancer in breast tissue, before you feel any symptoms.

You may need a diagnostic mammography if you find a lump, or if a radiologist sees something in a screening mammography. The technologist takes more images, carefully checking any potential problem area.

In a mammography test, you'll sit or stand in a private room with a female technologist. The radiology technologist places your breast on a plate. Then, another plate lowers down and puts slight pressure on your breast. The machine then sends low-dose radiation to create images of the breast tissue.

The squeezing, as you can imagine, can be uncomfortable, but it shouldn't hurt. If it's painful, please let the technician know so she can reduce the pressure.

When a breast imaging test reveals a potential cancer, doctors recommend a biopsy. This can confirm cancer or rule it out. There are three types of biopsies:

Fine needle biopsy: This takes a small sample to tell if it's a cyst or a solid lump.
Core needle biopsy: This biopsy uses a larger needle and can help doctors diagnose cancer and other benign solid masses. (Benign is good. It means it's non-cancerous!)

Surgical biopsy: The surgeon removes all or part of the tumor and sends it for testing. Doctors order a surgical biopsy when a needle biopsy result isn't clear.