The American College of Radiology has awarded Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin a three-year term of accreditation in stereotactic breast biopsy as the result of a review.

A breast biopsy is a sampling of a small portion of breast tissue, either surgically or by stereotactic biopsy — a less invasive procedure — in areas of the breast deemed to be potentially cancerous. These cells are examined under a microscope to determine a diagnosis.

The ACR gold seal of accreditation is the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It’s awarded only to facilities meeting ACR practice guidelines and technical standards after a peer review evaluation.

Dr. Robert Stoffey, radiologist at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin, says the accreditation is great news.

“It is the result of a great deal of hard work and diligence on the part of many staff in the radiology, surgery and pathology departments,” Stoffey said. “ACR accreditation confirms that patient care at MCHS in Austin is nationally recognized as meeting accepted standards of care.”