What is the difference between MRI and MRA? - ANSWER MRI = Magnetic Resonance
Imaging. CANNOT give you any information on blood vessels, just structures and ventricles.
MRA = Magnetic Resonance Angiography - Can look at the blood vessels .. should be ordered
if there's a concern for an occlusion
What is a mammography? - ANSWER -x-ray imaging of the breast tissue for early signs
of cancer. It is the only way to detect microcalcifications
What is BI-RADS? - ANSWER Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System
-Includes breast density on every single report and summary of findings
Bi-Rad System Grading 0-6 - ANSWER Stage 6; known malignancy/they already know
they have breast cancer, they've already had a biopsy and are positive for breast cancer. The
indication of the test would be to see if the patient is responding to treatment/progression
to disease.
Stage 5; highly suggestive of malignancy; get a follow-up biopsy
Stage 4; suspicious; consider biopsy
Stage 3; probably benign, short term f/u
Stage 2; benign
Stage 1; negative
Stage 0; incomplete
Other pertinent information in the Bi-RADS report - ANSWER -Patient information
1
, -imaging findings
-universal discussion of findings/assessment so everyone can communicate to eachother
(providers, radiologists, oncologists),
-density of breast tissue
-clinical correlations
-summary of findings
Importance of cervical screenings (like a papsmear) - ANSWER A papsmear is the
brushing of the cervix that removes sell, sent off to detect cancer.
-It is essential to make sure there is an adequate amount of sample to send off! (That's why
we do a pap smear before the pelvic exam).
Papsmear abnormalities - ANSWER Pap smear abnormalities refer to various types of
cell changes in the cervix that may indicate the presence of HPV or precancerous conditions.
examples of papsmear results are...
-squamous cell abnormalities,
-glandular abnormalities,
-hpv,
-ASC-US (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.. this is inconclusive and may
require a coloscopy)
-ASC-H (atypical squamous cells - cannot exclude high-grade / suggestive of cancer)
-LSIL, (low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion)
-HSL (high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion)
What's your next step after an abnormal papsmear? - ANSWER Colposcopy
What is a colposcopy? - ANSWER -An exam that looks at the cervix, vagina, and vulva
through a magnifying device (colposcope).
2
Imaging. CANNOT give you any information on blood vessels, just structures and ventricles.
MRA = Magnetic Resonance Angiography - Can look at the blood vessels .. should be ordered
if there's a concern for an occlusion
What is a mammography? - ANSWER -x-ray imaging of the breast tissue for early signs
of cancer. It is the only way to detect microcalcifications
What is BI-RADS? - ANSWER Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System
-Includes breast density on every single report and summary of findings
Bi-Rad System Grading 0-6 - ANSWER Stage 6; known malignancy/they already know
they have breast cancer, they've already had a biopsy and are positive for breast cancer. The
indication of the test would be to see if the patient is responding to treatment/progression
to disease.
Stage 5; highly suggestive of malignancy; get a follow-up biopsy
Stage 4; suspicious; consider biopsy
Stage 3; probably benign, short term f/u
Stage 2; benign
Stage 1; negative
Stage 0; incomplete
Other pertinent information in the Bi-RADS report - ANSWER -Patient information
1
, -imaging findings
-universal discussion of findings/assessment so everyone can communicate to eachother
(providers, radiologists, oncologists),
-density of breast tissue
-clinical correlations
-summary of findings
Importance of cervical screenings (like a papsmear) - ANSWER A papsmear is the
brushing of the cervix that removes sell, sent off to detect cancer.
-It is essential to make sure there is an adequate amount of sample to send off! (That's why
we do a pap smear before the pelvic exam).
Papsmear abnormalities - ANSWER Pap smear abnormalities refer to various types of
cell changes in the cervix that may indicate the presence of HPV or precancerous conditions.
examples of papsmear results are...
-squamous cell abnormalities,
-glandular abnormalities,
-hpv,
-ASC-US (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.. this is inconclusive and may
require a coloscopy)
-ASC-H (atypical squamous cells - cannot exclude high-grade / suggestive of cancer)
-LSIL, (low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion)
-HSL (high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion)
What's your next step after an abnormal papsmear? - ANSWER Colposcopy
What is a colposcopy? - ANSWER -An exam that looks at the cervix, vagina, and vulva
through a magnifying device (colposcope).
2
