Make an appointment for consultations.

Make an appointment

Home Specialists and services Services Senology

Senology

Contact & Consultations

HospitalContact details
Delta Hospital +32 2 434 88 46 - 1st floor - Wing H
St-Anne St-Remi Clinic +32 2 434 30 37
Braine-l'Alleud - Waterloo Hospital +32 2 434 93 44
Basilique Clinic +32 2 434 21 11
Medical Centre Edith Cavell +32 2 434 88 46 - 3rd floor
Medical Centre Park Leopold +32 2 434 88 46
Medical Centre Europe-Lambermont +32 2 434 24 11
CityClinic Louise +32 2 434 20 00

Specialists

 

I have to undergo a contrast-enhanced digital mammography

Contrast-enhanced digital mammography

During your senological examination, the radiologist proposes to perform a contrast-enhanced digital mammography. 

Contrast-enhanced digital mammography is a new technique which consists in performing mammography after intravenous injection of an iodinated contrast product.

This examination will improve the sensitivity of mammography and obtain more accurate images.

It is particularly indicated in vert dense, complex, scarred breasts and in patients who run a greater risk of breast cancer.

It can also be indicated if the senological assessment is inconclusive, if the breasts are dense and heterogeneous, in case of doubt about a scar or before an intervention.

 

What happens during the examination?

  • You will be comfortably seated in a chair or lying on an examination table.
  • A small catheter will be placed in a vein in your arm.
  • The contrast product will be injected by the technologist whon within a few minutes, will perform mammography shots as for a simple mammogram
  • The iodinated contrast product used is identical to that used in the CT-scan.
  • The injection is painless. It is common to feel a sensation of warmth, a strange taste in the mouth and a desire to urinate. The product is most often well tolerated.
  • Some rare side effects may occur: nausea, vomiting, allergic reactions ...

 

Before the examination

No preparation is necessary.

You do not need to be fasting. A light meal is allowed.

If you are allergic, diabetic or have kindey failure, please let us know.

After the examination

It is recommended to drink plenty of water (at least 1.5 L). This will help with the removal of the contrast product.

Iodinated contrast products, like any drug, can cause allergic reactions, most commonly benign. But they are extremely rare.

Another risk is exacerbating renal failure in patients already suffering from chronic kidney disease.

 

I have to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of my breasts

What happens during the examination?

  • You will be lying on your stomach for 20 minutes. Your breasts will be slightly compressed to limit the movements related to your breathing.
  • An intravenous gadolinium (MRI-specific contrast product) injection will be performed. This product is not iodine-based and rarely causes side effects.
  • The examination is noisy, we suggest that you bring some earplugs.

If you are claustrophobic, we can offer you a virtual hypnosis session. Please contact us 48h in advance at 02/434.88.50.

 

After the examination

Once your examination is over, the technologist will ask you to take a seat in the waiting room.

The senologist will tell you of a second-line examination is necessary.

A possible second examination

You may have to undergo a new investigation (mammography and/or ultrasound and/or biopsy) in order to refine the diagnosis.

This does not necessarily mean that there is a cancer.

  • This examination may be done on the same day. This is why we ask you, when making an appointment, to allow sufficient time (minimum 2 hours).
  • This 2nd examination takes place in the senology unit.

 

I have to undergo a biopsy

The biopsy

If during your senological examination an abnormality is detected, a further investigation is needed by means of one or more biopsies, which allows to determine the nature of the abnormality.

This does not necessarily mean that there is a cancer. most often, these are benign abnormalities.

Depending on the nature of the abnormality, we decide to perform a microbiopsy or a macribiopsy.

It is therefore important for the senologist to be in possession of your mammography file. Either ultrasound or mammography will be used for guidance.

 

Before the examination

You do not need to be fasting. No preparation is necessary.

You can take granules of Arnica (one day before, three days later) to reduce the appearance of hematoma.

If you take anticoagulants, aspirin (such as Asaflow, Sintron, ...) let us know and talk about them with your medical doctor. It will sometimes be necessary to interrupt the treatment momentarily.

If you are allergic (xylocaine, adrenalin, dressing, ...) do also let us know.

 

How is it done?

  • You will be lying down or seated. If the procedure is guided by mammography, the breast will remain compressed throughout the examination.
  • After performing local anaesthesian, the medical doctor will make a small incision (a slight sensation of pinching may be felt).
  • You will hear a snap, the sound of the gun if it is a microbiopsy. Four samples are taken on average. If it is a macrobiopsy, you will hear a sucking noise instead. In the case of a macrobiopsy, about ten samples will be taken.
  • After the biopsy, a clip is sometimes put in place. It causes neither pain nor complication. It is used to mark the location of the biopsy.
  • At the end of the procedure, the wound will be closed by simple Steri-Strips covered with an impermeable bandage that you will keep for 4 days.
  • You will be able to have showers. However, avoid sport on the 1st day.

 

Results

Results are available from your medical doctor one week after the biopsy.

 

Complications

Complications are rare.

Pain, slight bleeding and exceptionally haemorrhage or infection may occur.

After a biopsy a hematoma and a small knot may appear at the location of the biopsy. This is quite normal and resolves in a few weeks.

In case of pain, you can take paracetamol (Dafalgan, ...). Avoid anti-inflammatories (Nurofen, ...) which can make you bleed.

However, if you have any concerns, please contact the senologist.