Mammography services at Cedars-Sinai are available principally at the Marcia Israel Mammography Center, with a more limited schedule of services available at the S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center at Cedars-Sinai. The Marcia Israel Mammography Center is located in same building as the Saul and Joyce Brandman Breast Center. It offers:

• FDA-accreditation mammogram and ultrasound
• Minimally invasive outpatient stereotactic biopsy procedures
• Needle localization and ultrasound-guided biopsy
• An advanced breast biopsy system

Early detection and treatment is the key to surviving breast cancer. Mammograms can help save lives, often detecting lumps two to five years before they can be felt.

A mammogram is an X-ray procedure in which the breast is flattened between two plates to get a clear image of the tissue. It is painless in most women, although the breast compression may be somewhat uncomfortable. The two categories of mammograms are screening and diagnostic. Both types of mammograms include four standard X-ray views of the breasts and are:

• Performed using the accreditation and/or certification standards defined by the American College of Radiology (ACR), American Cancer Society (ACS) and Medicare
• Interpreted by the same board-certified physicians (radiologists)
• Performed by the same certified mammography technologists

A screening mammogram is used for patients without any symptoms. It is a recommended screening test that looks for very small breast lumps that cannot be felt. A screening mammogram entails:

• Lower cost. Payments by cash, check or credit card are required at the time of service.
• No consultation with a physician (radiologist)
• Results mailed to the patient and the patient's physician, generally within 48 hours
• Possible need for patients to come back for further diagnostic tests
• Patients without symptoms only (no discharge or lumps)
• Minimum 40 years of age (exception: strong family history)

A diagnostic mammogram is used when a patient is believed to have a problem. This procedure involves:

• A comprehensive, single-visit evaluation that is billed to the insurance company
• An available individual consultation from a physician
• Immediate verbal results given to the patients

The physician will explain any important findings, their significance, options and recommendations to patient and (if indicated) will perform additional diagnostic evaluations, including:

• Additional view
• Physical exam
• Ultrasound

The National Cancer Institute recommends that women have an initial mammogram at age 40 and every one to two years thereafter until the age of 49. Women at an increased risk, because of family or personal history, should begin screening before 40 and/or change her intervals to every year (depending on the recommendation of the doctor). From the age of 50, all women should have a yearly mammogram.