Breast Ultrasound
What are the common uses of this procedure?
Breast ultrasound is used when a patient has had a recent abnormal mammogram that shows a change from prior years or if a patient has a new palpable lump in their breast. If you are under age 35 and you have a symptom such as a lump in your breast, your doctor may order an ultrasound of your breast before a mammogram because the tissue in a younger person’s breast can be hard to penetrate with a mammogram.
An ultrasound is very good at finding cysts (fluid filled sacs) in the breast. Sometimes it also finds solid lesions in the breast.
How should I prepare for the procedure?
There is no preparation for a breast ultrasound.
What can I expect during the procedure?
You will be asked to remove clothing from the waist up and put on a gown. You will have to lie on your back on the examination table. The technologist will use gel and apply a transducer to the breast. The transducer will be moved around to obtain different views of the area of interest in the breast. The exam will take less than 30 minutes.