The Breast Center
Breast Center Services
Breast Ultrasound
Breast ultrasound, also known as sonography or ultrasonography, is frequently used to evaluate breast abnormalities that are found with screening or diagnostic mammography or during a clinical breast exam. Ultrasound allows significant freedom in obtaining images of the breast from almost any orientation. Ultrasound is excellent at imaging cysts: round, fluid-filled, pockets inside the breast. Additionally, ultrasound can often quickly determine if a suspicious area is in fact a cyst (always non-cancerous) or an increased density of solid tissue (dense mass) which may require a biopsy to determine if it is malignant (cancerous).
Breast ultrasound is not used as a screening tool for breast cancer. Breast Ultrasound is used to investigate an abnormality detected by screening or diagnostic mammography or during a physician performed breast exam.
Patient Education
At the Breast Center at Randolph Hospital, we are committed to providing you with quality care, and the most accurate information and educational materials to help you make the best decisions for your health.
Before the exam begins, the patient will be instructed to lie on a special table. The ultrasound technologist or physician will cover the part of the breast that will be imaged with a gel. The gel will lubricate the skin and help with the transmission of the sound waves. The physician will use a small device called a transducer that he/she will gently glide over the skin sending high frequency waves (images) to the computer. The physician discusses what he/she is seeing with the patient when the exam is finished. Patients may feel a slight pressure from the transducer, but they will not hear the high frequency sounds.
An ultrasound exam usually lasts between 20 and 30 minutes. Ultrasound does not use any radiation and is usually pain-free.
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