Finding a lump in your breast is extremely unsettling. Breast ultrasound may be used to further evaluate a suspicious lesion found during a screening exam or mammogram, or a lump found by a woman or her doctor.
How Is Breast Ultrasound Used in Breast Exams?
A breast ultrasound is useful in characterizing breast abnormalities, to determine if a lump is a harmless cyst or the early stages of breast cancer. Breast cysts are tiny sacs of fluid and are a common cause of non-cancerous breast lumps in women. They often appear or change with hormone fluctuations, but do not become cancerous, and usually no treatment is required.
During a breast ultrasound, also known as sonography, high frequency sound waves are used to examine an internal area of the body. A breast ultrasound transmits sound waves through the breast using a handheld instrument, which detects echoes from these sound waves and translates them into images on the computer screen.
The Benefits of Breast Ultrasound
Since a breast ultrasound is often able to clearly show layers of breast tissue, it can be a useful procedure for women with dense breasts, which means glands are very close together. Dense breasts are quite common, especially in younger women, and may make it more difficult to detect breast abnormalities with a conventional mammogram. If the breast ultrasound detects a mass of solid tissue, a biopsy will probably be scheduled to determine if the lesion is cancerous.
If you find a breast lump during a breast exam, be sure to schedule an appointment with your physician. Learn more about finding a breast lump.