What to Bring to Your Breast Center Appointment

• Original films from any past screening exams, such as mammograms and ultrasounds
• Radiology reports related to past screenings
• Any other records and original test results related to your previous breast care

Please have all of the above sent to us before your appointment, plus:

• original films from any past screening exams, such as mammograms and ultrasounds
• radiology reports related to past screenings
• written medical records and reports
• medication list
• X-rays, scans and other films
• pathology slides
• any other records and original test results related to your previous breast care

Sometimes a patient’s first contact with the Vanderbilt Breast Center is an appointment for one of our specialized services, including diagnostic follow-up, second opinions, cancer evaluation, high-risk screening and services for men. These patients may have a more extensive file of medical records and test results – often from more than one facility. These should be compiled and available at your first appointment at the Vanderbilt Breast Center.

Your personal/referring physician’s office should be able to help you compile a list of the tests you have had and the facilities that performed those tests. Please arrange to obtain your original test results and written records far enough in advance to have them at your first appointment at the Vanderbilt Breast Center. In the case of a biopsy, send your test results and record to our radiologists one week before you come in for the procedure.

Written medical records

This is the written medical history that your personal/referring physician and any consulting physicians have kept regarding your routine screening, diagnosis and treatment. 

Medication list

Please bring a list of all medications you take regularly, including prescription drugs and over-the-counter medication. The list should include how much of the medication you take (the dosage amount) and how often you take it. If you are uncertain about any of this information, bring the medication itself in the original packaging.

In addition, you should list any vitamins, herbs or other supplements you take regularly, including the dosage amount and how often you take it. You also may bring these items in their original containers for your physician to review.

X-rays, scans and other films

Patients often have had a number of tests during checkups, diagnosis and treatment. If a patient is coming to the Vanderbilt Breast Center for a biopsy, one week prior to the appointment our radiologists need to receive the original films and related reports from:

• prior mammograms
• breast ultrasounds
• breast MRI scans
• related X-rays
• related CT/CAT scans
• related PET scans

Pathology slides

If a biopsy has been performed somewhere other than Vanderbilt during your diagnosis, please obtain the glass slides and written pathology report from the facility where your test was done and have them sent to us before your first appointment. Vanderbilt pathologists will review these slides and confirm your diagnosis if the original pathology diagnosis was made at another facility.