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Aurora Dedicated Breast MRI offers resolution to locate and characterize breast lumps

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In women with fibrocystic breast disease, detecting breast cancer early can be a challenge without the proper technology. Traditional imaging methods, like mammogram (near right), make it difficult to distinguish areas of suspicion for breast cancer from the fibrous/dense breast tissue. With its higher resolution, Aurora Dedicated Breast MRI makes is possible for physicians to identify abnormal areas in order to make a diagnosis. This MRI image is from a woman with fibrocystic breast disease. Aurora Dedicated Breast MRI with CAD allows for the "noise" of dense tissue to be suppressed; a contrast medium is used to enhance any abnormalities, in this case a Stage 0 breast cancer.

Changes in the breast are common. Throughout her lifetime, a woman may experience various kinds of breast changes, including lumps. Lumps within breast tissue are usually found unexpectedly or during a routine breast self exam. While most lumps are not cancer, any change within the breast tissue can be a source of anxiety and should be evaluated. Fibrocystic breast disease - a condition marked by non-cancerous lumps in the breast - is the most common cause of benign breast lumps. An estimated 30-60 percent of women are affected by fibrocystic breast disease in varying degrees. Some may experience no symptoms, while others may have a large number of breast lumps and feel extreme discomfort.The concern with fibrocystic breast disease is in establishing whether a lump is a benign cyst characteristic of the condition or something more serious, like breast cancer. "It's alarming any time a woman discovers a lump in her breast, and she should consult with her primary care physician or a breast specialist right away, particularly if the lump is new or growing," says Dr. Jui-Lien "Lillian" Chou, Medical Director of The Breast Center at Wellness Lubbock, a comprehensive breast health center. "Early detection of breast cancer offers the best outcome and treatment options. In women with fibrocystic breasts, it is very important that they are screened for breast cancer using the proper technology. "Using traditional breast imaging methods - mammogram and ultrasound - for breast cancer screening on women with fibrocystic breast disease can be a challenge, Dr. Chou explains. These imaging methods do not have the resolution needed to image for specificity - that is, they may show a lump but are unable to show its characteristics. In these cases, the patient may have a biopsy or even surgery to remove the lump because the breast image was inconclusive for a diagnosis.Aurora Dedicated Breast MRI, on the other hand, provides high resolution images with both the sensitivity to locate the lump, even in dense or fibrous breast tissue, and the specificity to characterize the lump for diagnosis."Aurora Dedicated Breast MRI has a more than a 95 percent sensitivity for detecting breast cancer and can provide answers for patients who receive inconclusive or conflicting imaging/clinical findings for the presence of breast cancer," says Dr. Chou. "If the MRI indicates there is no evidence of cancer, regardless of the size of a lump or the number of lumps in the breast, there is no need for a biopsy or surgery."Of course, the MRI also makes it possible for the physician to make a diagnosis of cancer in those patients with numerous breast lumps," she adds. "Using the right tools allows us to get a complete and accurate picture."By offering the full range of breast imaging modalities, including the only Aurora Dedicated Breast MRI in the region, The Breast Center at Wellness Lubbock has the ability to meet every patient's unique needs. "Work up of a breast lump is best handled at a comprehensive breast center," says Dr. Chou. "An integrated team of concerned health care professionals who order the right tests, use the right equipment and share the same approach to patient care can deliver the best results."Regionally, only The Breast Center at Wellness Lubbock provides a full range of the latest breast imaging and breast cancer treatment options. The Breast Center at Wellness Lubbock coordinates patient care to be fast and seamless, with Dr. Chou orchestrating a team of expert imaging specialists, including Steven E. Harms, M.D., FACR, a pioneer in the field of MRI technology; surgeons; pathologists, medical oncologists; and radiation oncologists.For experienced, compassionate care, choose The Breast Center at Wellness Lubbock. For information, please contact the center by calling (806) 799-9355. Wellness Lubbock is located at 4009 19th St., Suite E in Lubbock. Most insurance accepted.Remember, it's advisable to have every lump or change in breast tissue evaluated, particularly if the lump is new or feels different from surrounding tissue, or if the breast lump has changed - getting bigger, firmer or more defined from surrounding tissue.