Breast Care Designed with You in Mind

At Texas Health, we understand that breast health is personal — and so is your experience. That’s why many of our breast centers offer a calming, spa-like environment to help you feel more at ease before your mammogram. From soothing music and private changing areas to refreshment stations and valet parking at select locations, we’ve created spaces that prioritize your comfort.

Advanced Imaging with a Personal Touch

Physicians on the medical staff will recommend the imaging approach that’s most appropriate for your needs. Many centers offer curved paddles and comfort pads to help make your mammogram more comfortable, while still providing the high-quality images needed for diagnosis.

Timely Results You Can Trust

We know waiting can be stressful. That’s why patients are typically contacted as soon as possible with their mammogram results — so you can take the next steps with clarity and confidence.

Convenient Locations Across North Texas

With 18 breast imaging centers throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Texas Health makes it easier to stay proactive about your breast health. Whether it’s your first screening or a follow-up appointment, we’re here to support you — close to home and on your schedule.

To help make your visit smooth and comfortable, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Bring your previous mammogram images if you're a new patient or have them sent ahead of time.
• Wear a two-piece outfit — it makes changing for your exam easier.
• Skip deodorant, powders, body oils, or perfume on the day of your appointment, as they can affect your results.
• Please don’t leave children under 13 unattended in the waiting area.

Cell phones aren’t allowed in exam rooms to help maintain a calm and focused environment.

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.

If you have had a mammogram before, you will likely not notice a difference with the exam. During the exam each of your breasts will be compressed between two plates for a few seconds. The breasts will gradually be pressed, and you will be asked to adjust you position several times to take different images. Each breast will be compressed a minimum of two times.

Does My Insurance Cover 3D?

Yes, most insurance plans cover 3D mammography, thanks to Texas House Bill 1036. There are some exceptions, so please verify with your insurance company before the appointment.

If You Are Called Back for Additional Testing

It is fairly routine to receive a request to come back for additional mammogram images or an ultrasound. These additional images may be necessary in order for the radiologist to complete the interpretation of your exam.

A 2D mammogram only takes images of the front and side of the breast, which often overlaps the tissues and can hide certain indicators of cancer. During the 3D portion of the mammogram, images are taken from multiple angles to create a more comprehensive picture of the breast for the radiologists to examine like the pages of a book.

To get the best images, your breast will be gently positioned between two paddles and gradually compressed. This helps create a clear view for the radiologist. You may feel some pressure or discomfort, but it shouldn’t be painful. If you do feel pain, let your technologist know — they’re there to help make the experience as comfortable as possible.

Curved Comfort Paddles

Comfort Pads

The timing can vary but generally:

• After a screening mammogram, the results will be available in the MyChart app, and they will be mailed to you.
• After a diagnostic mammogram, you will receive your results before you leave your appointment.
• After a biopsy, your ordering provider will receive results within two days after your procedure.

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.

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 in 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.

A 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 a MRI machine to guide the breast radiologist to the area of concern. Typically, this procedure is not performed inside the breast centers.