What is a breast ultrasound?
A breast ultrasound is an imaging technique used to detect tumors and abnormalities in breast tissue, such as cysts. An ultrasound uses sound waves to form images of the inside of the body. The sound waves bounce or echo off the surfaces of the body which are recorded and transformed into videos or photographs.
What is a breast ultrasound?
Before a breast ultrasound, a physician will have performed a physical examination of the breast. You will then undress from the waist up and lie down on the examination table. A clear gel is applied to the breast being examined. This gel is harmless and helps the ultrasound produce clearer images. A paddle-like probe instrument is applied to the breast and moved across the breast. The test will take 10 to 20 minutes. Once the relevant images have been recorded, the gel is removed and the procedure is complete.
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Why is a breast ultrasound performed?
A breast ultrasound is most often performed if a suspicious lump is found in the breast. This lump could be a sign of breast cancer and an ultrasound will help determine if it is a lump or a fluid-filled cyst. Although a breast ultrasound can detect a lump, it is not able to determine if it is cancerous or not. A biopsy will be performed to determine this, which may also be guided by ultrasound.
Preparation for a breast ultrasound
No preparation is required for a breast ultrasound, however, it is recommended that perfumes or lotions not be applied to the skin of the breast. It may also be helpful to wear a two-piece suit to make undressing easier.
How do you feel during a breast ultrasound?
A breast ultrasound is painless, however, you may feel cold from the gel that is applied.
What do abnormal results mean?
Ultrasound images are black and white, so a lump or abnormality will usually appear as a dark spot. Potential results of a breast ultrasound:
- Fibrocystic breasts: painful, lumpy breasts caused by hormonal changes.
- Adenofibroma: a benign, non-cancerous breast tumor.
- Intraductal papilloma: a benign tumor of the milk duct.
- Malignant tumor: a cancerous lump in the breast.
A cancerous tumor will be further examined, usually by MRI and then biopsy. These additional tests will confirm whether or not the tumor is cancerous.