Breast Ultrasound

Ultrasound, Breast

Why It Is Done

Breast ultrasound is done to:

• Find the cause of breast symptoms, such as pain, swelling, and redness.
• Check a breast lump found on breast self-examination or physical examination. It is used to see whether a breast lump is fluid-filled (a cyst) or if it is a solid lump. A lump that has no fluid or that has fluid with floating particles may need more tests.
• Check abnormal results from a mammogram.
• Look at the breasts in younger women because their breast tissue is often more dense, and a mammogram may not show as much detail.
• Guide the placement of a needle or other tube to drain a collection of fluid (cyst) or pus (abscess), take a sample of breast tissue (biopsy), or guide breast surgery.
• Watch for changes in the size of a cyst.
• Check your breasts if you have silicone breast implants or dense breasts. In these situations, a mammogram may not be able to see breast lumps.

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Author:	Bets Davis, MFA	Last Updated: April 3, 2008
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Kenneth B. Sutherland, CD, BSc, MD, FRCPC - Diagnostic Radiology Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology
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