Diagnostics

Visualizing breast tissue is a vital component to detecting and evaluating the extent of breast cancer. Aurora invests in research to explore new ways of diagnosing breast cancer. Examples of procedures used in our program include:

Mammography. Mammography is the primary tool used in breast cancer diagnosis. While its value is important, other diagnostic methods sometimes help our physicians pinpoint and characterize breast cancer more precisely.      [ Learn more about a mammogram ]

Breast Ultrasound. Another diagnostic tool that does not employ radiation to create clinically useful images of breast tissue is ultrasound. Ultrasound is often used to position biopsy needles precisely.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to image the breast without exposure to radiation. MRI may be used with mammography for improved breast cancer detection, to determine the extent of the disease and to monitor breast cancer therapy. MRI can also capture improved images for women with dense breast tissue or breast implants.

PET/CT. The combination of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with Computed Tomography (CT) represents the frontier of diagnostic cancer imaging. The technology provides physicians with 2 sets of information from a single scan: the anatomical data yielded by a CT scan and with the metabolic information provided by PET.

This relatively new technology is helpful in localizing smaller cancers and in defining areas to which breast cancers have metastasized.

Ductoscopy. Ductoscopy is used when atypical cells have been detected in the milk ducts (where 90% of breast cancers begin). It is also used to evaluate women with abnormal nipple discharge whereby ductal lavage and visualization of the duct can be done at the same time.

This procedure involves inserting a very small video scope into the breast, allowing physicians to examine the affected duct in real time and to biopsy suspicious areas. This can be done to evaluate women at high risk for breast cancer, with precancerous or cancerous cells.