3D screening mammograms are the preferred type of exam at Texas Health Breast Centers. With a 3D mammogram, the machine takes images of the breast from multiple angles. A computer then creates a 3D image of the breast that the radiologist can examine like pages in a book. Additional benefits include:

• Improves radiologists' ability to screen for and detect potential breast cancers.
• Helps radiologists pinpoint size, shape and location of abnormalities.
• Aids in distinguishing harmless abnormalities from real tumors, leading to fewer callbacks and less anxiety for women.

3D mammograms can also find microcalcifications (tiny deposits of calcium) that sometimes indicate the presence of breast cancer.

Bone density testing is a simple, painless scan that measures the strength and thickness of your bones. It helps doctors find out if you have osteoporosis or are at risk for fractures.

During the test, you lie on a table while a low‑dose X‑ray machine (called a DEXA scanner) checks areas like your lower spine and hips. The scan only takes a few minutes and uses much less radiation than a standard X‑ray.

Bone density testing is commonly recommended for women after age 65, men after age 70, and for anyone with risk factors such as family history, certain medications, or previous fractures.

Breast biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure that takes a very small sample of breast tissue for examination under a microscope.

Types of Biopsies

• Ultrasound-guided biopsy — uses ultrasound equipment to “see” and direct the needle to the area where the biopsy is needed.
• Stereotactic biopsy — uses a digital mammography system with a computer display and software to guide a needle to the area where samples of tissue will be taken.
• MRI-guided biopsy — uses an MRI machine to guide the breast radiologist to the area of concern. Typically, this procedure is not performed inside the breast centers.

A breast MRI is a painless imaging test that uses magnets and radio waves — not radiation — to create highly detailed pictures of the inside of the breast. It helps doctors look closely at breast tissue to find abnormalities that might not show up on a mammogram or ultrasound.

Breast MRI is often used for people who are at higher risk for breast cancer, to learn more about unclear findings from other breast imaging, or to check how well treatment is working. During the exam, you lie on your stomach while the machine captures images, and most appointments take 30–60 minutes.

At times, mammography alone is not enough. Your provider may also request a breast ultrasound, or sonogram, which is a noninvasive procedure that uses sound waves to produce images of the breast.

Why Is this Additional Procedure Necessary?

Typically, a breast ultrasound is performed with a mammogram. A breast ultrasound can distinguish a generally harmless fluid-filled cyst from a potentially concerning solid mass. It is also used to evaluate whether a solid mass is benign or appears to be malignant.

What Happens during the Procedure?

You will lay on your back on a table, and a technologist will apply a warm water-based gel onto your breast. Then the technologist will move a device back and forth over the area of interest to take the sonogram pictures.

Breast cyst aspiration is a simple procedure used to drain fluid from a fluid‑filled lump (cyst) in the breast. Cysts are common and usually not cancerous.

During the procedure, a thin needle is gently inserted into the cyst—often with the help of ultrasound guidance—to remove the fluid. Once the fluid is drained, the cyst usually collapses and the lump goes away. Many people feel immediate relief, especially if the cyst was tender or uncomfortable.

The procedure takes only a few minutes and doesn’t require surgery. Most patients can return to normal activities right afterward.

Typically, diagnostic mammograms are recommended for women who:

• Have experienced issues, such as lumps, nipple discharge or other changes.
• Experience persistent pain in their breasts, not related to menstrual cycle.
• Were diagnosed with breast cancer within the last five years.
• Experience a problem while pregnant or breastfeeding.

What Happens During a Diagnostic Exam?

A diagnostic mammogram may take longer than a screening mammogram. The technologist may magnify a suspicious area to produce a detailed picture that can help the radiologist make an accurate diagnosis. Before you leave the center, the radiologist will review the images and discuss the findings with you.

Breast needle localization is a procedure used to help guide a surgeon to an area of concern in the breast—usually something seen on a mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI that cannot be felt during a physical exam.

During the procedure, a radiologist uses imaging to pinpoint the exact spot in the breast. Then, a very thin wire or small marker is placed through the skin into that area. This guides the surgeon during a biopsy or surgery, helping them remove the correct tissue accurately and safely.

The procedure is typically done on the same day as surgery, and most patients can return to normal activities soon afterward.