Mammography

With Tanner Clinic’s on-site Women’s Center, there’s no need to go anywhere else for your mammogram. Located on the second floor of Layton’s south building, the mammography specialty offers the following benefits and services to patients:

  • Certified, experienced and friendly mammography technicians
  • 20 minutes per appointment
  • 3D mammography for screenings and diagnostics
  • GE Sensory Suite, which includes soothing pictures, pleasant scents diffused into the room and calming music to help relax patients
  • ACR Certification, which affirms our commitment to quality patient care

If you’re a woman who’s 40 or older, you may have had a mammogram. But would you know whether it was a screening mammogram or a diagnostic mammogram? While most women know the basics about these important imaging scans, including why it’s important to have them, some of the terminology used about this common test can be confusing. Both screening and diagnostic mammograms are types of X-rays that take images of your breasts so physicians can visualize tissue and see any abnormalities that may be too small to cause symptoms or be felt during a clinical breast exam. However, these breast imaging exams have different goals, and you may need one more than the other.

Mammograms are critically important for several reasons. Firstly, they are a highly effective tool for the early detection of breast cancer. Regular mammograms can identify cancer at an early stage when it’s often smaller and more treatable. This leads to better prognosis and treatment outcomes. Mammograms are essential for women with a family history of breast cancer or certain genetic mutations, as they are at higher risk. These individuals benefit immensely from regular screenings as they can catch cancer in its earliest, most manageable stages.

Additionally, mammograms serve as a baseline for future comparisons. They provide a clear picture of breast tissue, making it easier to spot any changes over time. This helps in identifying abnormalities even before symptoms manifest, further increasing the chances of successful treatment.

Furthermore, mammograms are vital for women aged 40 and older, as breast cancer risk increases with age. Regular screenings become even more crucial in this age group.

Mammograms are important due to their effectiveness in early detection, their role in assessing high-risk individuals, their ability to establish baselines, and their significance in the older population. Regular mammograms save lives by facilitating timely diagnosis and treatment.

Please arrive 15 minutes early for your scheduled appointment time to accommodate for parking and checking in. If you will be more than 10 minutes late, please call 801.773.4840 ext. 7996. As a courtesy to others, we reserve the right to reschedule your appointment if you are more than 10 minutes late.

WHAT IS A SCREENING MAMMOGRAM?

If you’re having a mammogram as a preventive measure based on your age, it’s a screening mammogram. This test, recommended every year for women starting at age 40, can detect breast cancer early when the disease is easier to treat and you have more options for treatment. Screening mammograms also provide important information about your breast health, allowing your provider to not only spot potentially cancerous tissue but also look back at previous images to detect changes over time. Women considered to be at a higher risk for breast cancer may need to begin their annual screening mammograms earlier than age 40. Those determined to have dense breasts may need an automated breast ultrasound or breast MRI in addition to their annual mammogram.

WHAT IS A DIAGNOSTIC MAMMOGRAM?

During a screening mammogram, a mammography technologist captures images of all areas of the breasts. If something suspicious is spotted on your screening mammogram, the radiologist will likely recommend that you undergo a diagnostic mammogram. While the same technology is used in both cases to capture images of the breast tissue, a diagnostic mammogram focuses in on specific areas of the breast. Images from a diagnostic mammogram offer more detail for that specific area than images from a screening mammogram. Your provider may recommend a diagnostic mammogram for other reasons, for example, if:

  • You experience other signs of breast cancer, such as swelling, skin dimpling, breast pain, and nipple changes, or nipple discharge.
  • Your provider feels a lump during a clinical breast exam.
  • You had a mammogram 4 months ago but you have found a new lump.

Another difference between screening and diagnostic mammograms is how quickly you receive results. For a screening mammogram, a mammography technologist captures the images, and a radiologist reads them after the exam and priors have been obtained if mammograms have been done at other facilities. (our facility had radiologist reading on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). During a diagnostic mammogram, the radiologist typically reviews the images of the breast tissue during the exam. This allows them to determine in real-time if there is a need to capture more images of the breast with mammography or a different modality such as ultrasound or MRI. Based on what is revealed in the images, the radiologist may recommend a biopsy. Recommendations are given the same day as the diagnostic work up exam. Finally, unlike screening mammograms, diagnostic mammograms are not considered preventive so coverage and out-of-pocket costs will vary depending on whether you have insurance and your specific insurance plan.

WHAT IS A 3D MAMMOGRAM?

Breast tomosynthesis or a 3D mammogram is different than a digital or 2D mammogram. A digital mammogram is an x-ray along a 2 dimensional plane. Breast tomosynthesis (3D) takes a series of images and converts them into a 3 dimensional image at the same time as your 2D mamogram and allows the radiologist to evaluate every millimeter of your breast. Breast tomosynthesis clinical studies have demonstrated: improved lesion visibility- which leads to an increase in cancer detection a significant reduction in recall rates ranging from 30-40%- by removing the issue of superimposed/overlying tissue increased ability to size and stage masses-which is important for pre-operative planning and diagnosis increased sensitivity in dense breasts- improves visualization and detection in younger women or women with dense tissue.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WHEN HAVING A MAMMOGRAM?

  • You will have to undress above the waist to have a mammogram. The facility will give you a wrap to wear.
  • A technologist will position your breasts for the mammogram. You and the technologist are the only ones in the room for this procedure.
  • The whole procedure takes about 20 minutes. The breast compression lasts only a few seconds.
  • You may feel some discomfort when your breasts are compressed. For some women this may be painful.
  • You can still get a mammogram if you have implants
    • Mammograms are performed on patients with breast implants. If you are having a concern about a ruptured implant, it is best to see your health care provider for a diagnostic work up. Breast MRI is the best modality for visualizing implant ruptures.

STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU HAVE A BREAST CONCERN:

  1. Call your primary care physician or OB/GYN and schedule an appointment to have your concerns addressed.
  2. If your doctor recommends a Diagnostic Mammogram or Breast Ultrasound, call our imaging coordinator at 801-773-4840 XT 7993.
  3. Before your appointment, make sure you do not use any deodorants, lotions or powders on your breasts or underarm areas as these show up on the exam and inhibit the Radiologist from seeing the tissue clearly.
  4. Show up on time for your appointment and allow enough time for us to ensure you get the best care possible.

BREAST SYMPTOMS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY A PHYSICIAN

  • Lumps
  • Nipple discharge
  • Skin changes (color, texture, retraction, or pulling in of the skin)
  • Pain
  • Thickening or swelling

WHAT DOES A DOCTOR LOOK FOR IN A MAMMOGRAM?

Mammograms are interpreted by radiologists. The doctor reading your mammogram will look for small changes that could be a sign of cancer, such as calcifications or masses.

Coming in annually allows them to detect subtle changes and catch potential cancer when it is small and easier to treat.

WHAT IF I GET CALLED BACK AFTER A MAMMOGRAM?

Getting called back after a screening mammogram is common and doesn’t mean you have cancer. In fact, less than 10 percent of women who are called back for more tests are found to have breast cancer. There are many benign (non-cancerous) pathologies that go in in the breast. Often, it just means more pictures or an ultrasound needs to be done to look at a specific area more carefully.

DOES MY INSURANCE COVER IT?

Tomosynthesis (3D Mammogram) is an optional exam that is done in addition to traditional 2D mammography. The FDA approved it as a tool to better diagnose breast cancer in February 2011. Currently, not all insurances are paying for the additional charge for tomosynthesis. If you would like to call your insurance company for clarification, the CPT code is 77063.

Our Providers

Schedule an
Appointment

Tanner Clinic makes it easy to schedule an appointment

You can live chat with an appointment representative, call us over-the-phone for appointment booking, or click below to discover which option is the most convenient for you!