BSGI / Gamma Gram St. Joseph's Imaging Associates is pleased to now offer the Dilon 6800 degree Gamma Camera. This Gamma Camera is optimized to perform Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging, also known as BSGI, and provide detection of small lesions, providing a vital diagnostic adjunct to mammography and ultrasound. BSGI is a strong diagnostic tool especially for patients who have dense breast tissue, lumps that can be felt but not seen with mammography or ultrasound, implants or breast augmentation or scarring from previous surgeries. Uterine fibroid embolization If you have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, an alternative to surgery is uterine fibroid embolization. This is a minimally invasive procedure that stops the blood flow to your fibroid(s) which will in turn shrink the fibroid. Eventually there will be complete blockage of the fibroid. For more information contact our Interventional Scheduling department at (315) 362-8346. Digital Mammography – YOU WILL KNOW TODAY Changing breastcare forever

Request your digital mammogram for all the right reasons:

A digital mammography exam usually takes less than half the time of traditional film-based exam, and there's less of a chance you'll be called back to retake your images. It may cost slightly more to receive a digital mammogram, but you deserve the most state-of-the-art healthcare possible. Your physician will gain viewing options never before possible with the unique ability to enhance certain areas to get a more precise picture of your condition. Your breast images can be zoomed in and out, and the contrast can be lightened or darkened. Also, through an inverting feature, black can reverse to white and white can change to black. This feature helps detect microcalcifications, which is like revealing a grain of salt in a ball of clay. All these image enhancements help improve diagnostic potential - and can be accomplished without your presence in the room. Digital images give better visibility of the breast, particularly near the skin line, chestwall and in women with dense breast tissue. Also, digital images are helpful for women with implants and for imaging patients with known abnormalities.

Your physician can send your digital images anywhere in the world electronically to be viewed on a workstation by another physician.

Breast Ultrasound
If an area of concern is identified on your mammogram or if you feel a lump that cannot be localized on your mammogram, you may be referred for an ultrasound of the area in question. Gel is applied to the area to be scanned and a transducer is passed gently over the skin. Sound waves are reflected off the internal structure of your breast to reconstruct an image on a computer. This image will assist the Radiologist in identifying abnormalities.

There is no preparation for this exam.

Breast Biopsy
You may need to have an abnormality examined further by having a sample of tissue, cells or fluid extracted for evaluation in a laboratory. We may perform this by vacuum assisted biopsy, core biopsy or fine needle aspiration. You will be with very compassionate and caring staff that will be with your through your entire experience.

Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) of the breast
A local anesthetic will first be administered to numb the area. The procedure consists of a very thin needle inserted into the breast with a syringe to remove fluid from a cyst within the breast. The fluid is then sent to a lab for analysis.

Vacuum assisted biopsy/core biopsy
The area of the breast will be numbed and a small incision will be made. A hollow needle will be inserted into the nodule and three small samples will be removed via a small vacuum. The samples remain within the needle and the entire needle is sent to a lab for analysis.

There are some medication modifications required for these exams. Please call our Interventional Scheduling Department at (315) 362-8346 to discuss with one of our specialists.

Needle localization
If you will be having surgical removal in an operating room we will “localized” the area for your surgeon. Mammographic images will be performed to identify the exact location of the area to be biopsied. When this has been completed, the radiologist will insert a needle into the breast, into the lesion/nodule. Additional mammographic images will then be obtained to verify the needle is in satisfactory position for you to proceed to the operating room for surgical removal of the area.

There is no preparation for this exam.

Ductogram
Ductograms are performed on patients with active nipple discharge. The breast will be manipulated to produce the discharge in the examination room, thereby identifying the specific duct. A needle is then inserted into the duct and contrast material is injected. Mammography images are then taken as the contrast material will highlight the specific duct and assist the radiologist in identifying abnormalities.

There is no preparation for this exam however there needs to be active discharge.

Transvaginal ultrasound
To better examine the internal structures of your reproductive system you may be referred for a transvaginal ultrasound. This examination is performed by inserting a transducer into the vagina. The transducer sends reflected sound waves to a computer, which will reconstruct your organs to identify areas of concern. The exam is painless and generally takes approximately 30 minutes.

There is no preparation for this exam.