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Breast ultrasound
The use of ultrasound waves to produce echos off the breast tissue. A simple non invasive way of providing further information to complement a self or professional breast examination, or as an adjunct to a mammography.
- Having a breast ultrasound
- Information obtained from this procedure
Having a breast ultrasound
The woman is asked to remove her clothing from the upper half of the body and slip on a gown, which opens at the front. She is asked to lie on the examination couch, initially at least on her back. An ultrasound transducer is used to examine the breast tissue (see fig 1) by moving the transducer over the breast tissue. This is a non invasive procedure which produces no pain and only minimal discomfort. The images collected from the procedure are displayed on a monitor and can be printed out as permanent records.
Figure 1
Information obtained from this procedure
Sonography is a good method of imaging the breasts, although it lacks the detail, and may not be able to image the small abnormalities, that conventional mammography can do. Ultrasound cannot detect small calcium deposits, which can be the earliest visible signs of cancer.
For these reasons it is a procedure usually retained to evaluate breast abnormalities that are found at a screening or diagnostic mammography, or as a follow on from a physical examination.
Ultrasound has the advantages of being able to obtain images of the breast from almost any orientation. It is also the only way to tell if a cyst (collection of fluid) is present without actually placing a needle into it to sample or aspirate the fluid. It is also a useful tool for guiding biopsy needles when tissue sampling is being carried out.
Mammography
A detailed assessment of the breast tissue by the use of low dose radiation. This investigation is used specifically to detect masses in the breast tissue.
- Having a mammogram
- Information obtained from this procedure
Having a mammogram
The woman is asked to undress above the waist. Each breast is assessed independently. The radiographer positions the breast between two plastic plates. The plates then press together, to flatten the breast tissue. Typically two views of each breast are taken, one from above and one from the side. This procedure is associated with a degree of discomfort -> pain. It is not unbearable and of course the information obtained is invaluable in being able to determine the health, or otherwise, of a woman's breasts.
Mammography should be used to complement the monthly breast self examination that all women should be advised to carry out on themselves throughout their life. If any abnormality is noticed at this monthly check, or indeed at a professional examination, the woman can immediately be referred for a mammogram if necessary.
Mammograms are offered as part of a screening procedure in each country, although the frequency of this and the ages at which it is offered may vary.
Figure 2
Information obtained from this procedure
Mammography is a tool used to assess both non-symptomatic and symptomatic women.
The first mammogram that a woman undergoes will provide baseline information. Even when the result of this mammogram demonstrates no abnormalities it is an invaluable tool to compare later mammograms against.
Mammograms are generally offered as a screening tool by individual countries health departments to coincide with the ages at which a woman becomes most vulnerable to developing breast cancer. However the tool of mammography exists so that any woman, at whatever age, who develop a breast abnormality that would benefit from the further scrutiny that a mammogram would offer, can undergo the procedure. Breast tissue which is under the influence of the sex hormones. Whether these are ones produced by the body itself or those given in the form of drugs such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), may make the appearance of the mammographic images denser, and consequently be more difficult to interpret from the radiologists point of view.
Figure 3 - Mammographic images
On the left side of Figure 3: Tumour deep in breast
On the center of Figure 3: Tumour in mammary duct
On the right side of Figure 3: Calcified tumour
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