Breast care specialists.

We have five convenient locations offering same day appointments and extended options for breast cancer screening and 3D mammograms in Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest and Clayton. Cardinal Points Imaging is recognized by the American College of Radiology as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.

Elevated breast imaging

• 3D screening mammography
• 3D diagnostic mammography
• Breast ultrasound
• Breast MRI
• Abbreviated breast MRI
• Stereotactic and ultrasound guided breast biopsy
• Bone density

Screening 3D mammography

Mammography uses a low dose x-ray system to see breast tissue and aids in early detection and diagnosis of breast disease. During a 3D mammogram, multiple images are taken from different angles, producing a series of one millimeter slices that form a 3D image of the breast. This gives the radiologist greater visibility, increases the likelihood of spotting abnormalities and reduces callbacks. 3D mammography finds cancers earlier than 2D mammography, when they are more successfully treated. The very low x-ray energy used is below FDA guidelines.

Up to 40% of women have dense breast tissue that makes detection harder. Your results will tell you if you have dense tissue, and you may want to talk with your doctor about adding an abbreviated breast MRI or screening breast ultrasound.

Diagnostic 3D mammography

A diagnostic mammogram is performed on the same machine and in the same way as a screening mammogram, for patients with symptoms such as pain, itching, swelling, a palpable lump or discharge, or when a screening mammogram finds an area of concern. It may be paired with ultrasound for greater clarity.

Breast ultrasound

Often performed with diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound uses sound waves rather than radiation. A technologist moves a gel coated wand over the breast to examine areas of concern.

Breast biopsy

A radiologist removes cells from a suspicious area with a minimally invasive, image guided needle. Ultrasound guided biopsy samples an abnormality using ultrasound. Stereotactic biopsy uses a special mammography machine to guide the needle, and is used for calcifications and architectural distortion, which show better on x-ray.

Breast MRI

A traditional breast MRI takes comprehensive images to screen for, diagnose and monitor breast cancer, and may assess the extent of disease in a new diagnosis. It is also recommended:

• As a screening exam for women at high lifetime risk, including a known genetic mutation, radiation to the chest between ages 10 and 30, or a calculated lifetime risk over 20%
• To assess breast implant integrity
• When the radiologist needs to assess a problem not identified by mammogram or ultrasound

Under these diagnostic conditions, the procedure is typically authorized by insurance.

Abbreviated breast MRI

An abbreviated breast MRI captures key images in less time than a traditional MRI and can find cancers that mammography or ultrasound alone may miss. Women with dense breasts and intermediate risk can pair it with a screening mammogram; it is most helpful in heterogeneously and extremely dense breasts, finding 200 to 300% more cancers than mammography alone in patients with these risk factors. It is also recommended for women with intermediate lifetime risk, women with implants (to screen for cancer, not implant integrity), and women at least one year past breast cancer treatment.

It requires an order from your provider and is not typically authorized by insurance, so it is a self-pay procedure at $379. Cardinal Points Imaging was one of the first in the Triangle to offer it.

Many women may also benefit from a screening bone density exam.