Mammography & Breast Imaging

Early detection of breast cancer—ahead any symptoms—saves lives. Catching cancer before it spreads helps patients get care when their condition is easiest to treat. Because 1 in 8 women develops breast cancer, we encourage patients to have their first mammogram between the ages of 40 and 44. Women who carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, inherit a family history of breast cancer or possess dense breast tissue should consult with their doctor. For them, scheduling a mammogram before the age of 40 may be the right decision.

As part of the comprehensive women’s care we offer at Yuma Regional Medical Center, our Diagnostic Imaging department offers these screening tests to detect breast cancer and aid in its therapy:

• Mammography –  The gold standard in breast detection, mammograms save lives by detecting early growths. YRMC offers both 2D and 3D mammography. 3D mammograms offer superb success spotting smaller tumors—an advantage for patients with dense breast tissue or women genetically predisposed to a higher breast cancer risk.
• Breast Ultrasound – This safe, non-invasive test uses sound waves to produce images of the internal structures of the breast so that any lumps or other abnormalities can be diagnosed.
• MRI Breast Biopsy – To perform this diagnostic test, the doctor is guided by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology so that fluid or cells can be extracted from the abnormal area for testing. 
• Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) – This is a nuclear medicine study that uses an injection of a substance called a radiotracer to identify the size, number and position of potentially cancerous masses, evaluate any changes at a lumpectomy site or determine how well chemotherapy drugs are working.
• Sterotactic Breast Biopsy – When a radiologist reads a mammogram and identifies a suspicious abnormality within the breast that can’t be felt in a physical exam, a stereotactic breast biopsy, which also uses mammography, may be performed to obtain sample tissue from the area of concern so that it can be tested.

Mammography and breast imaging testing is offered at the following locations:

• Yuma Regional Medical Center Outpatient Diagnostic Imaging Center
• Yuma Regional Medical Center Foothills Imaging Center 
• Women's Health Specialists

If you have any questions about mammography and breast imaging services available at Yuma Regional Medical Center, please call 928-336-7350 and we will connect you with someone that can help you.