So you need breast imaging. Here are a few things you may like to know...

If your doctor has asked you to have imaging of the breast, there are a number of different imaging techniques we can use at San Radiology & Nuclear Medicine. The decision to use one particular type of imaging technique, or a combination of imaging techniques is based on a number of factors including your age, the presence of symptoms or signs, family history, past personal history of breast pathology, breast density and so on. Your doctor will likely have discussed this with you.

In younger women, typically under 40, it is not uncommon to initially investigate breast concerns with an ultrasound. Mammography may or may not be performed in this age group, and often this occurs after the ultrasound. In women over 40, imaging usually includes both mammography and ultrasound.

There are other studies for the breast which can be used in varying circumstances including contrast mammography and MRI. Biopsy of the breast may also be necessary in some situations and radiologists (doctors trained in medical imaging) perform these with imaging guidance.

Breast imaging services at San Radiology include:

• Diagnostic 2D mammography and 3D mammography (tomosynthesis)
• Breast density evaluation
• Breast ultrasound
• Contrast mammography
• Breast MRI
• Image-guided intervention procedures including:
  - Preoperative hookwire localisation
  - Various biopsy techniques such as
• Core biopsy
• Vacuum assisted core biopsy
• Fine needle aspiration biopsy

San Radiology has several radiologists who specialise in breast imaging and are involved in all aspects of the procedures and services listed above.

Video & Radio Interviews

Watch a range of short videos featuring Dr Christine Shearman, our Breast Imaging Supervising Radiologist, explaining the San's new and innovative technology and the benefits for both patients and doctors.

Christine Shearman also shared the benefits of new 3D imaging available with San Radiology's new Mammomat technology in a radio interview on 2GB with Steve Price. 

Publications

Read Dr Christine Shearman's article on Advances in Breast Imaging, written for Sydney Adventist Hospital's San Doctor publication.

We have also listed below some medical journal articles selected by our radiologists that may be of interest to referrers and patients.

• Pilot trial of digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography) for population‐based screening in BreastScreen Victoria
  Nehmat Houssami, Darren Lockie, Michelle Clemson, Vicki Pridmore, David Taylor, Georgina Marr, Jill Evans and Petra Macaskill
  Med J Aust 2019; 211 (8): 357-362. || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50320
  Published online: 21 October 2019
• One-view breast tomosynthesis versus two-view mammography in the Malmö Breast Tomosynthesis Screening Trial (MBTST): a prospective, population-based, diagnostic accuracy study
  Sophia Zackrisson, Kristina Lång, Aldana Rosso, Kristin Johnson, Magnus Dustler, Daniel Förnvik, Hannie Förnvik, Hanna Sartor, Pontus Timberg, Anders Tingberg, Ingvar Andersson
  The Lancet Oncology, Vol 19, Issue 11, P1493-1503, Nov 01, 2018 || DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(18)30521-7
  Published online: October 12, 2018
• Breast cancer screening with tomosynthesis (3D mammography) with acquired or synthetic 2D mammography compared with 2D mammography alone (STORM-2): a population-based prospective study
  Daniela Bernardi, Prof Petra Macaskill, Marco Pellegrini, Marvi Valentini, Carmine Fantò, Livio Ostillio, Paolina Tuttobene, Andrea Luparia, Prof Nehmat Houssami
  The Lancet Oncology, Vol 17, Issue 8, P1105-1113, Aug 01, 2016 || DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(16)30101-2
  Published online: June 23, 2016

Further Information

Please contact San Radiology if you have any questions or queries.

A useful website for further information is the Royal Australasian College of Radiologists (RANZCR) consumer information site Inside Radiology, www.insideradiology.com.au.