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Breast Imaging

The Breast Unit & Gynae Out Patient department share a front door and reception desk, close to the Sarum entrance and opposite the tennis court and Horatio’s Garden.
The Breast Unit, which was opened in December 2016 is a calm, bright, and clean area.

Your tests in the Breast Unit will be appropriate for your condition or symptoms, as described by you, your GP or your Consultant. You may attend with a new symptom which the GP will arrange or be on a surveillance pathway, in which case an appointment letter or phone call will be come from Radiology.

You may have any or all of the following:-

• Clinical Examination by a specialist doctor who will ask about your symptoms and examine you.
• Mammogram using low-dose x-rays. Your breasts will be compressed, one at a time for a few moments. You may find this uncomfortable but compression is needed to obtain good quality diagnostic images.
• Ultrasound Gel on your skin will transmit sound waves from a probe on your skin to obtain images of your breast.
• Fine needle aspiration under ultrasound guidance will remove a few cells.
• Core Biopsy is performed under ultrasound or tomosynthesis guidance. Following a full explanation local anaesthetic will be given before small tissue samples are taken from the breast using a needle.
• Magnified images using a small compression paddle may be needed.

Tomosynthesis is a mammogram examination taking a few seconds longer than usual, particularly useful when imaging a dense breast or when more information is needed.

Results are discussed at a weekly MDT meeting on a Thursday. You will be contacted by phone or letter if a Results appointment has not already been arranged for you.

During your visit you may see a Radiologist, Radiographer, Radiology Assistants, Breast Care Nurses, Breast surgeons and other healthcare professionals.

Ultrasound

Mammogram