Mammography

ADVANCED MAMMOGRAPHY SERVICES

Welcome to The Imaging Centers at Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge

Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge’s mammography patients have rated us in the top 5 percent in the country for satisfaction, comfort, timeliness and accuracy. All Breast Center locations are accredited by the American College of Radiology and use 3D mammograms as the standard high-quality technology for our friends and neighbors.

3D mammography is revolutionizing how breast cancer is detected by providing a clinically superior mammogram for you. Researchers have found that a 3D mammogram provides:

41 percent increase in the detection of invasive breast cancers
40 percent reduction in anxiety-provoking false-positive recalls
Earlier cancer detection by up to 15 months
Low radiation levels with no additional breast compression
Scan completed in just a few seconds
Recommended for all women who are due for a standard mammogram
3D Screening is covered by Medicare and most of private insurers

See more about mammograms, 3D biopsies and our new mobile unit below.

Breast Imaging and Testing

At Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge, we provide women and, though rare, men in our communities with the highest quality breast imaging services. We use advanced breast imaging procedures and technologies to provide you with the most accurate clinical information, helping our doctors make timely diagnoses and better tailor screening and treatment plans.

Complete, Convenient Breast Care

By trusting us with your breast health, you’ll receive personal and collaborative care, including:

Access to local and skilled team of doctors, board certified and specially trained to interpret all types of breast exams and diagnose breast disease
Convenient access to breast imaging services close to home
Timely results for diagnostic mammograms and breast ultrasounds
Late-evening appointments at many locations
A dedicated breast health navigator at certain locations who provides support and education to those newly diagnosed with breast cancer

Our Advanced Technologies

We offer:

Digital 3D (tomosynthesis) mammography in Morganton and Hickory, Valdese and Marion
MRI of the breast imaging and biopsy
High resolution breast ultrasound
Advanced equipment offers minimally invasive breast biopsies

Our Breast Services

Mammography takes X-ray pictures of the breast. This specialized test lets doctors see inside the breasts and detect any abnormal areas. There are guidelines for when women should have their first one, so check with your doctor.

Mammograms can be used to:

Check for breast cancer in women with no signs or symptoms of the disease (called a screening mammogram)
Look at a lump or other possible signs of breast cancer (called a diagnostic mammogram)

3-D mammography (tomosynthesis) is a new type of mammogram that shows cross-sections of the breast. It allows images to be taken of individual layers of the breast tissue; think of it as looking at a book, page by page. 3-D mammography is especially helpful for women:

With dense breast tissue
Who have a high risk of developing breast cancer

Breast ultrasound is a type of imaging that uses sound waves to examine the breast. In some cases, this exam may also be coupled with a diagnostic mammogram.

For this test, you will lie on an exam table. The person doing the ultrasound will place some gel on your breast and use a hand-held device that will move smoothly over your breast to take pictures.

Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the breast and surrounding tissue. A breast MRI provides a very detailed exam of the breast.

This test complements mammogram findings and is often recommended for women:

At increased risk of breast cancer and
After breast surgery and/or radiation

For this test, you will lie on your stomach with your arms stretched above your head. The person doing the MRI will position each breast to get the best visual picture.

Biopsies

Needle biopsies of the breast may be needed when a breast exam or mammogram shows a lump or other suspicious change in a woman’s breast tissue. To perform the biopsy, your doctor will use a thin, hollow needle – often guided by ultrasound or MRI, to take a small sample of the abnormal tissue and surrounding fluid. Local anesthetic is used to minimize any discomfort.

A few things to keep in mind about biopsies:

Needle biopsies generally only take 30 to 45 minutes to complete and the recovery time is far shorter than a traditional biopsy
Your medical team will give you special instructions or restrictions, depending on the type of biopsy you’re getting. For example, you may be asked to stop taking certain medications, like aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines. In most cases, breast symptoms turn out to be benign (not cancer).
Your doctor will explain the results.

What is a 3D biopsy?

A 3D-guided biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses X-ray imaging techniques to gather tissue samples from a breast abnormality. This biopsy technique is used to target and sample lesions which cannot be seen with standard 2D digital mammography but can only be identified with 3D mammography.

The 3D breast biopsy is the most advanced option available in breast biopsy, providing better access to areas that may otherwise be difficult or impossible to visualize. Unlike previous biopsy procedures where you must lie flat, the 3D biopsy allows you to sit up making it easier for some patients to have the procedure.

Mammography Mobile Unit

Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge recently added a mobile mammography coach to provide 3D mammograms in Valdese and Marion. Most insurance plans now cover the cost of 3D.

We will provide confidential results to all patients and their primary care physician of choice. If additional images are needed to make an accurate diagnosis, we will personally contact the patient to discuss recommended next steps.

LOCATIONS

In addition to our new mobile mammography center, we have four mammography locations:

Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge–Morganton

Ladies Health Pavilion with 3D mammography
2201 S. Sterling St.
Morganton, NC 28655
828-580-6900

Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge – Valdese with 3D mammography (late summer 2019)

720 Malcolm Blvd.
Valdese, NC 28690
828-580-6900

Blue Ridge Radiology Hickory with 3D mammography

Hickory 2134 14th Ave. Circle NW Suite B
Hickory, NC 28601
828-580-6900

Blue Ridge Radiology McDowell with 3D mammography (late summer 2019)

2293 Sugar Hill Road
Marion, NC 28752
828-580-6900