Virtual
Tour:
Your mammography appointment at Brigham and Women's
Hospital
Are you
apprehensive about an upcoming appointment? Perhaps it is your first mammogram,
or perhaps you are concerned about what might be discovered. You are not alone.
Mammography examinations can seem threatening. This "tour" provides a
step-by-step description of a typical mammography appointment at BWH. Although
your visit will undoubtedly vary somewhat from our presentation, the basic
elements of your examination will be the same. And knowing what to expect may
help to ease your anxieties. |
 |
Locating the Breast Imaging Service
Brigham and Women's Hospital is located on Francis Street between Huntington Avenue and Brookline
Avenue in the Longwood Medical Area. For directions to the hospital, you can call
(617) 732-6000. BWH also has directions, maps, and parking information on line.
Both locations of the Breast Imaging Service are conveniently
located from the Main Entrance of the hospital. The Mammography Screening Center is
located on level L1. For your convenience, use the Main Entrance at 75 Francis Street. Turn right
inside the building and take the elevators located on your right (Amory Elevators). Go down to
floor L1. When you exit the elevator on floor L1, turn right. The Center is almost directly opposite
the elevators. Look for signs to Mammography Screening.
The Breast Imaging and Diagnosic Center is located in the Connors Center for Women's Health
on the second level. For your convenience, use the Main Entrance at 75 Francis Street. Turn right
inside the building and walk toward the Gift Shop. You will see a stairway to your left.
You can take the stairs to the second floor. Turn left at the top of the stairs. The Connors Center
will be on your left after you pass through the double doors (these doors are usually open). Take
the hallway to the left, toward the bridge to Children's Hospital. Breast Imaging Diagnostic Center
is on the left. If you prefer to take an elevator to the second floor, turn right near the stairs
and walk down the hallway to the lobby of the Connors Center for Women's Health (on your left).
Take the elevator to the second floor. On the second floor, follow the Pike to the right. You
will see a pair of double doors (usually open); there is a hallway to the right just before the
doors. Follow the hallway to the right. Breast Imaging Diagnostic Center is on the left.
Arriving and Waiting in Reception
You will be greeted
at the reception desk when you enter the suite. The
receptionist will check you in and ask you to complete any necessary paperwork
while you wait. This will include a medical history form if it is your first
visit. You also may be asked to complete a Mammography History Questionnaire.
The information you provide will help us learn more about the factors influencing
breast health.
We try to keep appointments running on
schedule, but sometimes an examination takes longer than expected and delays
those scheduled after it. Relax and enjoy a magazine until you are called by a
technologist.
Preparing for your Examination
When you are
called, a technologist will take you to a gowned waiting area. Inside, there are
two private dressing rooms and several lockers. You will be given a locker key so
that you can store your clothing and other valuables during your exam. The
technologist will ask you change into a gown (you need only remove your clothing
from the waist up).
After you have changed, please remain in the
gowned waiting area until the technologist comes to get you.
The Procedure
The technologist
will take you to one of our examination rooms. Each room is dominated by the
mammography machine. (You will see an ACR Certificate on display near it.) The
diagram below describes the different parts of the machine.
 | 1.
X-ray generator
2. Compression plate (moves along track 4)
3. Imaging
base plate. Contains film
4. Track for compression plate The
technologist performing your examination is specially trained to position you and
the machine for the best results. The imaging assembly may be tilted for your
comfort and to get the fullest exposure of your breast in each image view. You
may be asked to place your hand on one of the bars found on either side of the
machine. The actual procedure takes about five minutes. The technologist will
take two images of each breast, one in each of two views. Much of your time in
the exam room is spent getting your position just right to produce the most
complete image. Obtaining each image, the part of the procedure that requires
compression of the breast, takes only a few seconds. |
After the images are taken, the technologist will take you back to the gowned
waiting area. Remain in the hospital gown until after your films have been
studied by the radiologist in case additional images or other tests are needed.
Getting Your Results
The technologist
will deliver your mammograms to one of our radiologists, who will study your
films and identify any abnormalities or "findings".
If the
radiologist sees something questionable on an image, films from previous
examinations can be very helpful. A comparison of the images will show whether a
finding is new or significantly changed from a previous study. These details can
help determine whether you need additional tests.
If
additional films are needed, the technologist will take the necessary images. If
the radiologist orders sonograms, the technologist will take you to an exam room
with an ultrasound unit. The radiologist will perform the ultrasound examination.
When your examination is complete, the radiologist will discuss your results
with you and answer any questions you might have. The radiologist will also
provide a complete report of your results to your referring physician.
See About BrighamRAD for information about this
website. Is this a mirrored page?
The official URL is http://brighamrad.harvard.edu/patients/education/Mammo/tour.html
Contact the BrighamRAD design team at radweb@dsg.harvard.edu
Updated June
6, 2000