Breast Imaging Services

EFW Radiology offers mammography in Calgary & Airdrie. 

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast performed by a female technologist. Mammograms provide an overall look of both breasts and determine your breast density. Mammograms can find an abnormality in the breast that is too small to be felt by you or your doctor. They are performed for routine screening, or if you have a concern in your breast. Special views can be obtained as required by our breast imaging specialists.

Mammography uses a low-dose X-ray to examine breast tissue, and plays an important role in the early detection of breast cancer. Screening mammography can show changes in the breast before a patient or physician can feel a lump. Diagnostic mammography refers to special views that may be performed if you feel a lump or if there are any new findings on your screening mammogram.

A breast ultrasound is an exam using high frequency sound waves to evaluate the breast tissue. Breast ultrasound is used for a number of reasons, including evaluating mammography findings and scanning women who have had a mammogram and have dense breast tissue.

An ultrasound guided biopsy of the breast is a procedure where a sample of breast tissue is taken through a core needle. The skin will be cleaned with antiseptic and local anesthetic will be injected to freeze the area. The sample is sent to the lab to be examined by a pathologist, and the results are sent to your referring physician.

For more information visit our Biopsies and Aspirations page

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the breast is an exam that evaluates the breast using strong magnetic fields. Breast MRI produces detailed 3D images and is frequently performed in combination with screening mammography in high risk patients.

Breasts are made up of fat and other tissue such as milk ducts, lobules or glandular tissue and fibrous connective tissue. Breast density is the amount of fibrous or glandular tissue compared to the amount of fat in the breast. It’s very common to have dense breast tissue. Almost 50% of women aged 50 to 74 have dense breasts. There are many things that can affect your breast density including genetics, hormone levels and overall body fat. Breast density can change and also tends to go down as you age.

How do I know if my breasts are dense?

You can’t tell how dense your breasts are by size, look or feel. The only way to find out is by having a mammogram. Your mammogram report from EFW will mention your breast density.

Learn more at screeningforlife.ca