What is Breast Ultrasound?

A breast ultrasound, also called a sonogram, is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the breast. With this ultrasound scan imaging, The doctor can identify breast problems, such as solid masses, cysts, or irregular tissue, and check the blood flow of the breast. A breast ultrasound can help diagnose breast cancer and other breast conditions, but it alone cannot make a diagnosis.

 

When is breast ultrasound used?

Breast ultrasound is commonly used in several situations:

Diagnostic Imaging: It helps evaluate breast abnormalities found during a clinical exam or on a mammogram.

Characterizing Breast Lumps: It can distinguish between fluid-filled cysts (benign) and solid masses that may require further investigation.

Supplementing Mammography: Especially in younger women or those with dense breast tissue where mammography might be less effective.

Guiding Procedures:  Ultrasound can help guide biopsies or aspirations to obtain tissue samples for testing.

Monitoring Treatments: It may be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for certain breast conditions.

 Overall, breast ultrasound is a valuable tool in the diagnostic toolkit for evaluating breast health and abnormalities.

 

What the advantages of breast ultrasound machines?

Breast ultrasound offers several advantages for breast imaging and diagnosis:

Non-invasive: Breast ultrasound is non-invasive and does not involve radiation exposure, making it safer for repeated use.

No radiation: It uses sound waves (ultrasound) to create images, without radiation exposure.

Effective for dense breasts: In women with dense breast tissue that reduces the effectiveness of mammography, ultrasound can often provide clearer images and help detect abnormalities that mammography may miss.

Versatile: Ultrasound can differentiate between cysts (fluid-filled sacs) and solid masses in the breast, helping to distinguish between benign and potentially cancerous lesions.

Real-time imaging: It provides real-time images, allowing radiologists to dynamically view internal structures and blood flow patterns.

Patient comfort: The procedure is generally well tolerated and does not require compression of the breast like mammography, which some patients find uncomfortable.

Cost-effective: Ultrasound tends to be more cost-effective than other imaging techniques, such as MRI, while still providing valuable diagnostic information.

 

What are the risks of breast ultrasound?

Breast ultrasound is generally considered a safe and minimally risky test. However, as with any medical procedure, there are some potential problems:

False positives: Ultrasound can sometimes detect findings that appear suspicious but turn out to be benign (noncancerous). This can lead to unnecessary anxiety and further testing.

Operator dependence: The quality of ultrasound images can vary depending on the skill and experience of the technician performing the procedure. This can affect the accuracy of the diagnosis.

Not a stand-alone screening tool: While ultrasound is valuable as a diagnostic tool, it is not typically used alone to screen for breast cancer in asymptomatic women because of its limitations in detecting small calcifications and microcalcifications that can be detected by mammography.

Overall, the risks of breast ultrasound are minimal compared to the benefits it provides in diagnosing breast abnormalities and guiding treatment decisions. It is an important adjunct to mammography and clinical breast examination in the comprehensive assessment of breast health.

 

Dawei Breast Ultrasound Machine Recommendation

DW-P8, a portable high-end color ultrasound machine, is equipped with the ST-U ultra-fast imaging platform to provide you with more efficient output of ultra-clear images at all times. In addition, the intelligent application operation makes the workflow more simplified. The travel case packaging and long-lasting battery life make it more convenient to diagnose outside.