Breast imaging tests are tools we use to see what’s going on inside your breasts. We use them for breast cancer—to find it early and plan treatment. We also use breast imaging to diagnose and care for other breast health issues. 

• Breast screenings: All women with breast tissue need breast cancer screening starting at age 40.
• Breast imaging: We image breast issues like blocked ducts, infections, and lumps that aren’t cancerous. Men with a breast lump or other breast changes may need imaging.
• Breast imaging procedures: You may need procedures that involve imaging to treat breast cancer or cysts.

Cancer screening means we're looking for cancer before you have any signs or symptoms.

Breast cancer screenings can find breast cancer early before it's spread. It gives us more options to treat you and a better chance of curing your cancer. It also increases your chances of long-term survival.

Screening uses mammography, a type of X-ray that takes images of your breasts in 2D or 3D. 3D mammograms—also called digital breast tomosynthesis—look at slices of your breast tissue. It helps us better see cancerous tumors.

If we find something of concern during mammogram screening, we can do more imaging tests. These tests help diagnose cancer and other breast conditions.

We offer several types of diagnostic breast imaging tests.

• Diagnostic mammogram: You may need a diagnostic mammogram after breast cancer screening. We take more pictures to help plan breast cancer treatment.
• Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This test takes detailed pictures of the insides of your breasts from many angles. If you're at high risk for breast cancer, your doctor may recommend a screening breast MRI along with your mammogram.
• Breast ultrasound: These imaging tests use a wand connected to a computer to see the tissue inside the breast in more detail. They're useful for dense breast tissue and can better distinguish between a cyst and a tumor.

Imaging procedures don’t just look inside the breast. During an interventional imaging procedure, your technician may take a sample or treat diseased tissue in your breast.

• Image-guided biopsy: A biopsy is a procedure to take a sample of diseased breast tissue and test it. We use breast imaging to help guide the needle we use to take the sample. It might be a mammogram (stereotactic biopsy), ultrasound, or MRI. When we order an imaging procedure, we pick the imaging test that best helps us see the abnormal area.
• Image-guided cyst aspiration: Similarly to a biopsy, we can use a needle and ultrasound guidance to drain large or painful cysts.
• Image-guided cryoablation: Using breast ultrasound as a guide, we insert a tool called a cryoprobe. This uses extreme cold to enclose and destroy breast tumors. It’s used for fibroadenomatous lesions.