UPMC offers seamless, comprehensive imaging services and uses state-of-the-art technology to deliver fast, accurate results that enhance early detection and treatment of a range of disorders.
What Are UPMC Women’s Imaging Services?
Women’s imaging services include breast, obstetric, and gynecologic imaging, as well as comprehensive imaging services for all types of disorders.
What Conditions Do We Diagnose?
We diagnose a full range of conditions, including:
Who’s Eligible for Women’s Imaging Services?
We provide expert care for women who need all types of diagnostic and screening imaging.
What Women’s Imaging Services Do We Offer?
UPMC Women’s Imaging Services offers comprehensive diagnostic and screening imaging services, including:
Breast imaging
Our board-certified and fellowship-trained breast radiologists have expertise in reading diagnostic and screening breast imaging studies, as well as performing minimally invasive breast biopsies in all imaging modalities. Breast imaging is a powerful tool that helps detect breast changes early — when they're most treatable.
Breast imaging procedures we offer include:
- 3D digital mammography (screening and diagnostic) — 3D breast imaging, also known as digital breast tomosynthesis, is an advanced form of breast imaging that takes many pictures of your breast tissue using a series of x-ray image slices, much like a CT scan. They provide clear, detailed, 3D pictures to help your doctor detect breast cancer. Early detection through regular screening can save lives.
- Breast MRI — A breast MRI is a safe, noninvasive imaging test that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to provide highly detailed pictures of breast tissue — without radiation exposure.
- Breast ultrasound — Ultrasound imaging uses high-frequency sound waves to produce real-time pictures of breast tissue.
- Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) — An advanced imaging technique used to improve breast cancer detection. It involves the use of a contrast agent (typically an iodine-based dye), which is injected into your bloodstream before your mammogram. The contrast agent highlights breast cancers, making them more visible on your mammogram.
- MRI-guided breast biopsies — Uses MRI guidance to precisely locate suspicious areas of breast tissue so they can be sampled and examined under a microscope for cancer cells.
- Stereotactic breast biopsies — Uses mammography guidance to precisely locate suspicious areas of breast tissue so they can be sampled and examined under a microscope for cancer cells.
- Ultrasound-guided breast biopsies — Uses ultrasound guidance to precisely locate suspicious areas of breast tissue so they can be sampled and tested for cancer.
Image-guided breast radiology services
UPMC’s nationally ranked program offers advanced radiological care for people with breast cancer.
Our breast radiologists and breast surgeons work together to offer:
- Radioactive seed localization — A procedure that combines advanced imaging with precise tumor localization to remove breast tumors, while helping to spare healthy tissue. Using imaging technology to pinpoint the exact area, a breast radiologist inserts a radioactive seed with a needle at the site of the tumor. A surgeon then uses a handheld device to find the seed and remove it along with the surrounding cancerous tissue.
Obstetric imaging services
Our team offers comprehensive imaging services for expectant mothers, including:
- Fetal echocardiography — A test to check an unborn baby’s heart for abnormalities and screen pregnant mothers for heart disease.
- Obstetric ultrasound — Produces images that help doctors determine the size, shape, and position of a developing baby and diagnose certain maternal-fetal health problems.
Comprehensive imaging services
We offer a full range of imaging services, including:
- Cardiac imaging — Uses state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to diagnose heart disease.
- CT scan — Uses x-ray technology to take multiple cross-sectional views of organs, bones, and tissues inside your body.
- DXA (bone density) scans — A DXA (pronounced DEX-a) scan is a painless, noninvasive test to measure bone mineral density (BMD).
- Interventional radiology — Used to diagnose and treat a broad range of diseases, providing a less invasive option when compared to open surgery.
- MRI — A noninvasive test that uses magnetic waves to take 2D and 3D pictures of the inside of your body.
- Nuclear medicine imaging — Noninvasive tests that use small, harmless amounts of radioactive material to help doctors diagnose a variety of medical conditions.
- PET scans — Positron emission tomography (PET) is an imaging scan that shows abnormal cell activity within your body's tissues.
- Ultrasound — An ultrasound, or sonogram, is a painless, noninvasive test that uses sound waves to produce images of your body's organs or the blood flow through your veins and arteries.
- Vascular ultrasound screenings — A fast, painless imaging procedure that gives your doctor information about the health of your blood vessels and your potential risk for complications of vascular disease.
What Can I Expect?
When you visit one of our imaging locations, you can expect:
- Collaboration — Caring, knowledgeable, and efficient staff work with you and your doctor to integrate your imaging results into a seamless plan of care.
- Convenience — Multiple testing locations across the region offer same-day, early morning, and weekend appointments.
- Expertise — Highly skilled specialists use advanced imaging technology for fast, high-quality readings that can lead to more accurate diagnoses and treatments.
Why Choose UPMC for Women’s Imaging Services?
When you choose UPMC for women’s imaging services, you will have access to:
- Advanced imaging care — State-of-the-art imaging technology, including 3T MRI, 64-slice CT, and digital 3D mammography.
- Complete care — Comprehensive imaging services for both men and women.
- Experienced professionals — Subspecialty-trained physicians who collaborate with researchers in the Department of Radiology at the University of Pittsburgh.
- Multidisciplinary care — Seamless, coordinated care from subspeciality providers through the entire imaging process.
Advanced technology. Expert care. Trusted results.
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-08-28.
