Breast ultrasound uses the same high frequency sound technology used to visualise the foetus in a pregnant woman, but is applied to the breast tissue using equipment specific to the breast (high frequency ultrasound probes).
Method
- The ultrasound examination uses sound waves to achieve the images.
- The ultrasound technique obtains images that are complementary to the mammogram.
- Patients frequently have both a mammogram and a breast ultrasound.
Use
Ultrasound can be used to assess the following:
- Very dense breast tissue.
- Assessing the nature of lesions seen on the mammogram.
- Patients who have a clinical abnormality (a symptom), where no abnormality was identified in the mammogram.
- Younger women in whom the risk of breast cancer is less.
- Pregnant women thus avoiding the use of xrays.
Time The ultrasound procedure takes approximately 30 minutes.
