A breast ultrasound (sonogram) is a diagnostic imaging test used to examine the tissues inside the breast by utilizing high-frequency sound waves that create digital images. These images are captured in real time and can also show blood flowing through veins and arteries in the area.
A breast ultrasound is commonly performed while screening for breast cancer in women with dense breasts or high risk patients. It is also performed after breast abnormalities are found during a physical examination, mammogram, or MRI. This procedure can be used to determine the cause of breast symptoms, monitor the size of a cyst or a growth, diagnose a cyst or tumor in the breast, or guide the placement of a needle for a biopsy or drainage procedure. A breast ultrasound should not be performed in place of a mammogram, but is a highly effective supplemental test that can search for potential problems that may otherwise not be detected.
This procedure does not expose the patient to any ionizing radiation and is considered safe for nearly all patients, including pregnant women.
A screening breast sonogram is recommended at Medical Imaging of Manhattan for women at high risk for developing breast cancer and for women whose mammograms show dense breast tissue or a complicated pattern that could camouflage a tumor. After filling out your medical history sheet, you will meet with the technologist who will take standard images of each breast. The images are immediately sent to the radiologist's workstation, where they are viewed on a high resolution flat screen monitor and compared with prior exams. Once the images have been studied, you will meet with the radiologist who will discuss the results of your exam, show you your images, answer your questions, perform a physical examination of your breasts, and make any pertinent recommendations. A report will be dictated and shortly after that a second radiologist from our practice will reread your exam. Once the report is finalized it will be sent to your referring physician.
You may elect to forgo the office consultation when coming for a screening breast sonogram under certain circumstances. In this setting the radiologist will send you and your physician a written report in 2-3 days after your exam was done.
To be a candidate for a screening breast sonogram without a consultation in our office, you have to meet the following criteria:
A diagnostic breast sonogram is performed when a patient has a worrisome symptom, an abnormal finding on physical examination, or a finding on a mammogram or breast MRI that needs further evaluation. In addition to the standard images taken during a screening exam, the technologist will take images targeted to the area of concern.
The images are immediately sent to the radiologist's workstation, where they are viewed on a high resolution flat screen monitor and compared with prior exams. Once the images have been studied, you will meet with the radiologist who will discuss the results of your exam, show you your images, answer your questions, perform a physical examination of your breasts, and make any pertinent recommendations. A report will be dictated and shortly after that a second radiologist from our practice will reread your exam. Once the report is finalized it will be sent to your referring physician.
