Breast ultrasound

Breast ultrasound imaging is typically used in conjunction with mammography to further evaluate an area seen on a mammogram. A breast ultrasound may also be ordered when a patient or physician notices a breast lump or breast pain. Ultrasound is not reliable for screening the breast for abnormalities and does NOT replace your mammogram. Mammograms are considered the “gold standard” for early detection of breast cancer. Many cancers are not visible on ultrasound. Many calcifications seen on mammography cannot be seen on ultrasound. Some early breast cancers only show up as calcifications on mammography. An ultrasound is recommended when a density is seen on a mammogram that requires further evaluation. In some cases, a mammogram will reveal a questionable area in the breast and ultrasound is used to further evaluate the specific area of interest. Biopsy may be recommended to determine if a suspicious abnormality is cancer or not.