Breast ultrasound is a valuable diagnostic tool that provides detailed images of the breast tissue.
While mammography uses X-rays to create images, ultrasound uses sound waves, making it a safe and radiation-free imaging technique. During a breast ultrasound, you will lie on an examination table, typically on your back or slightly tilted to one side. The technician or radiologist who performs the ultrasound will apply a special gel to your breast, which helps the ultrasound probe make better contact with your skin and transmit sound waves. These sound waves bounce back and are converted into detailed images on a computer screen. The images show the internal structures of your breast, including any masses, cysts, or other abnormalities.
Some reasons to have a breast ultrasound include:
- To evaluate abnormalities detected on a mammogram or during a breast exam.
- To evaluate breast symptoms such as a lump, breast pain, or nipple discharge.
- To distinguish between fluid-filled cysts which are usually benign, and solid masses which may require additional testing or a biopsy.
- To monitor known breast conditions (such as fibroadenomas, cysts or other benign breast lumps) to check for any changes.
- As an additional test to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. Women with dense breast tissue have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, and dense breast tissue makes breast cancer more difficult to detect through mammography alone.
- Because a breast ultrasound does not use radiation, it is usually the first test used to evaluate breast issues in younger women (under age 30).