Breast Imaging

The Division of Breast Imaging is responsible for the interpretation of all breast imaging studies except for the nuclear medicine procedures.  All state-of-the-art imaging as it applies to breast diagnosis is offered including digital screening and diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, elastography and breast MRI imaging. The breast interventional procedures include stereotactic biopsies, ultrasound guided biopsies, wire localizations, clip marker placements and MR-guided breast biopsies.  The state of art equipment includes 6 digital mammography units, 2 Ultrasound units, one 3T and one 1.5T MRI magnets. The main department is based at Hollings Cancer Center with two outreach facilities that are read mostly through teleradiology. All members of breast imaging faculty are fellowship trained in breast / women’s imaging and every year 1-2 fellowship positions are offered through the department.

Under the supervision of Dr. Etta Pisano, a leading researcher in breast imaging, the section is involved in many research projects such as low dose breast CT trial, and ACRIN Tomosynthesis trial. The Breast imaging section produces several papers every year that are presented at various national meetings. The section is dedicated to resident and medical student teaching through didactic lectures, case conferences, journal clubs etc.

The breast imagers work closely as a team with the breast surgeons, the radiation therapists and the medical oncologists to plan the appropriate therapy for women diagnosed with breast cancer. There is a weekly multidisciplinary conference in which all newly diagnosed breast cancer patients are discussed. 

The division performed a total of 21,390 procedures last year including 1114 interventional procedure:

11,631 screening mammograms
5,464 diagnostic mammograms
2,706 breast ultrasound examinations
475 breast MR studies
693 ultrasound-guided biopsies
179 needle localization procedures
224 stereotactic biopsies
18 MR guided biopsies

Breast Imaging Faculty