What is an ultrasound?
What can an ultrasound do that a mammography cannot?
Why is ultrasound better than mammography when examining dense breasts?
What are "dense breasts"?
Can I get an ultrasound instead of a mammogram?
Under what circumstances would I get an ultrasound instead of a mammogram?
Will the procedure hurt?
How accurate is ultrasound?
What is a false negative result?
What is a false positive result?
How should I prepare for an ultrasound?
What do the results of an ultrasound look like?
Is ultrasound safe if I am breast feeding?
Where can I get a quality ultrasound?
What is an ultrasound?
Ultrasound, also known as a sonography, is an imaging technique used to detect many different kinds of cancers. It uses sound waves and their echoes to image the body's internal structures. A computer collects the sound wave data and produces an image that allows the radiologist to look for abnormalities. Ultrasound is also commonly used to view the fetus inside a pregnant mother.
What can an ultrasound do that mammography cannot?
An ultrasound is very good at diagnosing abnormalities detected on a mammogram. It can determine whether a lesion is a fluid filled cyst or a solid mass. Cysts are much more likely to be benign than solid masses. Ultrasounds are also better than mammography when examining dense breasts.
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Why is ultrasound better than mammography when examining dense breasts?
Dense breast tissue shows up white on a mammogram and fatty tissue shows up as black. Cancerous tissue also shows up as white on a mammogram. Therefore it is sometimes hard to distinguish dense tissue from cancerous tissue. On an ultrasound cancerous tissue shows up black and dense tissue is still white, therefore cancers are easier to distinguish.
What are dense breasts?
Breast density is based on the amount of glandular and fibrous tissue it has. Dense breasts contain high amounts of fibrous and glandular tissue and low amounts of fatty tissue. Dense breasts do not increase risk for breast cancer. Usually women 35 or younger have dense breasts.
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Can I get an ultrasound instead of a mammogram?
Ultrasound does not replace mammography as a screening technique for breast cancer. In most cases it is used in combination with mammography when the results of a mammogram show more accurate testing is needed or if there are significant symptoms present. If there are no lumps or other symptoms a mammogram is enough to stay ahead of breast cancer. The following question describes when an ultrasound would be used as a screening tool.
Under what circumstances should I get an ultrasound instead of a mammogram?
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In women with dense breasts ultrasound provides an alternative view of the breast that is easier to interpret
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In pregnant women to protect the fetus from mammography radiation exposure
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In women with breast implants, the implants may distort the image produced by mammography
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In women at high risk for breast cancer because of family history
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Will the procedure hurt?
Ultrasound is a painless, non-invasive exam. The device used for an ultrasound, called a transducer, simply rubs against the patients skin over the area being examined.
How accurate is ultrasound?
A recent study showed when mammography and ultrasound are used in combination they have a sensitivity of 98.1% in detecting cancerous lesions. Ultrasound and mammography in combination greatly reduce the chances of false positives and negatives. Watch a video about sensitivity and specificity.
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What is a false negative result?
A false negative is when a medical test is determined to be 'negative' (i.e. no cancer) but the person being tested does have cancer. Watch a video about false negatives.
What is a false positive result?
A false positive is when a medical test mistakenly detects cancer when the person being tested does NOT have cancer. Watch a video about false positives.
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How should I prepare for an ultrasound?
You will probably be asked to undress from the waist up and put on a gown, so it is best to wear a two piece outfit. Other than that there is no special procedure for an ultrasound.
What do the results of an ultrasound look like?
![benign and <span onmouseover=]()
malignant mass" height="258" src="http://www.cancerquest.org/images/ultrasoundimages.jpg" title="breast ultrasound result" width="475" />
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Is ultrasound safe if I am pregnant or breast feeding?
Yes. Ultrasound is a very safe, non-invasive exam. If you are pregnant you should get an ultrasound instead of a mammogram to protect the fetus from radiation.
Where can I get a quality ultrasound?
You can find an accredited ultrasound facility on the American College of Radiology website.
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