Breast Service
General Information

The Breast Surgical Service is involved with the Cancer Center and Breast Service Group in the rapid and comprehensive management of patients with breast problems. Diverse problems such as nipple discharge and axillary masses are evaluated and treated expeditiously with state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Patients with breast diseases are seen by a multi-disciplinary team from The Department of Surgery, The Department of Radiology, The Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hematology/Oncology, and Endocrinology.

The Breast Surgical Service provides a full range of educational opportunities for physicians, nurses and patients regarding the treatment and evaluation of patients with breast disease and isactive in the recruitment of patients in up-to-date protocols in the treatment of breast disease.

Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Care at the University of Virginia is committed to the highest quality of interdisciplinary care of patients with the diagnosis of breast cancer. To that end, we have formed a multidisciplinary specialty service that evaluates and cares for women with breast cancer utilizing the combined input of specialists from seven disciplines: surgery, medical oncology, radiation therapy, radiology, plastic surgery, endocrinology, and pathology. We believe that we can, through rigorous application of the current fund of knowledge regarding breast cancer treatment, optimize the outcome for our patients, and provide them with the best possible care in a caring and responsive environment.

Imaging Techniques

In 2000, the Breast Center introduced the Commonwealth's first digital mammography unit. This unit allows greatly improved imaging capability for patients with normal and abnormal breast tissue. Digital mammography as well as the ongoing development of MRI for breast imaging at UVA has allowed the radiologists to use the very latest in imaging technology in evaluating breast disease.

Benign Breast Diseases

Dr. Santen, in conjuction with Dr. Brenin, manages a breast clinic for all patients with newly diagnosed breast disease. This clinic sees all patients with suspicious breast masses or suspicious mammograms of non-palpable breast masses. Dr. Santen works in conjunction with Dr. Brenin and Chu in treating patients who have symptoms associated with fibrocystic disease and other benign diseases of the breast.