Women's Imaging Services
Breast MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a specific type of breast imaging that may be recommended by your physician. It may be a recommended screening for someone at higher risk for breast cancer. It may be appropriate for someone with breast cancer in one breast to have an MRI on the other breast. This procedure is performed in the Radiology Department at Archbold Medical Center.
A breast ultrasound is a painless procedure used in conjunction with mammography to determine if a lump or mass is solid tissue or a fluid-filled cyst. The ultrasound provides additional information that helps confirm the composition of a lump or mass and helps determine follow-up care.
An ultrasound is not a screening tool and should not routinely be used in place of a mammogram. A physician may order, or a radiologist may recommend, using an ultrasound in place of a mammogram if certain conditions are present. Such conditions may be: the patient is outside the guidelines for screening mammography or she is breast-feeding.
Screening and diagnostic mammography are performed at our facility using state-of-the-art digital equipment. With Digital Mammography, x-ray film is replaced by special detectors that produce a high-quality computer image analyzed by a radiologist and stored electronically. The process of having the mammogram performed with digital mammography is essentially the same as traditional mammography.
Gynecological concerns and pregnancies are two of the most common reasons your doctor will order a pelvic or obstetrical ultrasound. The Women's Center has a private ultrasound suite where pregnant women may allow selected members of her family to be present during these procedures.
Pelvic ultrasound is also used to rule out benign and cancerous abnormalities. The early detection of cancer ensures more effective treatment.
To ensure accuracy and prevent unnecessary surgical procedures, special views or other additional types of diagnostic procedures are sometimes necessary. Additional imaging or a "call-back" procedure may be an alarming experience for many women. Our experienced team of technologists try to prevent unnecessary call-backs. However, we are not able to eliminate them. Because of the complicated structures of breast tissue, the radiologist will determine if additional views are needed.