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Ultrasound

A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to make a picture of the tissues inside the breast. A breast ultrasound can show all areas of the breast, including the area closest to the chest wall, which is hard to study with a mammogram.

Breast ultrasound is done to:

• Find the cause of breast symptoms, such as pain, swelling, and redness.
  
  
• Check a breast lump found on breast self-examination or physical examination. It is used to see whether a breast lump is fluid-filled (a cyst) or if it is a solid lump. A lump that has no fluid or that has fluid with floating particles may need more tests.
  
  
• Check abnormal results from a mammogram.
  
  
• Look at the breasts in younger women because their breast tissue is often more dense, and a mammogram may not show as much detail.
  
  
• Guide the placement of a needle or other tube to drain a collection of fluid (cyst) or pus (abscess), take a sample of breast tissue (biopsy), or guide breast surgery.
  
  
• Watch for changes in the size of a cyst.
  
  
• Check your breasts if you have silicone breast implants or dense breasts. In these situations, a mammogram may not be able to see breast lumps.

You will be asked to undress above the waist. You will be given a gown to drape around your shoulders. Wear a two-piece outfit so that it is easy to undress above the waist.

Gel will be put on your breast so the transducer can pick up the sound waves as it is moved back and forth over the breast. A picture of the breast tissue can be seen on a TV screen.

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