What is a Diagnostic Breast Ultrasound?

Although an annual mammogram can usually be effectively used to view and diagnose breast tissue abnormalities, there are circumstances where ultrasound may also be used. Also known as sonography, this type of ultrasound uses sound waves emitted via a microphone-like transducer that bounce off of breast tissues and are interpreted by a computer into black and white images. A gel will be put onto your breast area prior to the transducer being placed on your skin, making this exam very tolerable with minimal discomfort.

What Can a Diagnostic Breast Ultrasound Show?

The benefits of using diagnostic ultrasound in breast tissue are multiple, often allowing the clinical breast radiologists at KCBC a clearer picture to see the following:

Suspicious lumps in the tissue of children, teenagers and young women whose breasts are still developing without exposing them to radiation

Masses in women who have mammographically dense breast tissue, which may be obscured on a mammogram.

Questioned physical findings in mammograms are often given clarification using ultrasound, such as seeing the difference between a fluid-filled cyst and a solid mass.

Lumps in the underarm or chest walls of women who have undergone mastectomies are better evaluated using ultrasound, as these areas are inaccessible to x-ray.

The sensitive task of determining silicone leaks from implants can also be done using ultrasound technology

For breast biopsies and cyst aspirations, ultrasound is helpful for the accurate guidance of needles into breast tissue

Determining the cause of any discharge in the nipple area