Breast ultrasounds
Ultrasound, sometimes called sonography, uses sound waves instead of radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the breast. It’s often used if a lump is felt, when changes are seen on a mammogram or when changes are seen in women with dense breast tissue. The detailed picture generated by the ultrasound is called a sonogram. An ultrasound can determine if a lump is a solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst that is typically not cancerous.
What to expect during a breast ultrasound
You’ll undress above the waist, remove your jewelry, and put on a gown. There are secure lockers for your use in the mammography dressing rooms. During the exam, the physician or ultrasound technologist will first apply gel to your breast. Then a transducer ‒ a small hand-held device about the size of a bar of soap ‒ will be placed firmly against the skin of your breast and swept back and forth to obtain images. The images will be interpreted by a radiologist.
How to prepare for a breast ultrasound
No special preparation is needed.
What to expect after the procedure
Following your exam, your physician will contact you to discuss the results. You’ll be notified if there are areas of concern that may require additional images.