Breast Ultrasound

Diagnostic Breast Ultrasound

Diagnostic breast ultrasounds are performed to help diagnose breast abnormalities detected by a physician during a physical examination (such as a lump or nipple discharge), or to better evaluate a potential abnormality detected on a mammogram or breast cancer screening ultrasound to specify potential abnormalities seen on a mammogram.

Screening Breast Ultrasound

Screening breast ultrasounds are performed as an adjunct to mammography. While mammography is still the gold standard for early detection of breast cancer, screening breast ultrasound may improve the chances of detecting cancer in those with dense breast tissue or breast implants. This is especially important for women over 40 years of age as part of their regular cancer screening routine.

Breast ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce ultrasound images of the body’s tissues, structures, and blood flow. A transducer/probe and ultrasound gel work in combination to absorb the reflected sound waves to produce images on the monitor.

The sonographer will request that you lay quietly during the test to help ensure that the images are clear. She will then apply a warm, water-based gel directly on the skin to the area that will be examined. The sonographer will then move the transducer against your skin to obtain clear images of the underlying tissue for the physician to interpret.

If you are having a diagnostic breast ultrasound exam, a physician will review your images at that time and will provide follow-up information if necessary before you leave.

You will be asked to undress from the waist up and to wear a gown during the exam.

The benefits of Breast Ultrasound:

• Ultrasound images are shown in real-time.
• Breast imaging can help detect lesions in women with dense breast tissue.
• The exam is painless and non-invasive.
• No radiation is used.

Risks you should be aware of:

• There are no known risks for ultrasound, though there can be instances of false positives.

Additional Information

Breast MRI and hand-held ultrasounds can also be used for further breast imaging. These imaging tests are particularly useful for visualizing dense breast tissue and breast implants. During the exam, you will lie on an exam table, and the sonographer will use the ultrasound machine to take images of the breast tissue. If a fluid-filled cyst is detected, it may appear clearly on the ultrasound images.