Breast Ultrasound
What is a Breast Ultrasound?
Breast Ultrasound is an imaging test that uses high frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the breast. Breast ultrasound can be used as an additional tool in the diagnosis of breast cancer to determine if an abnormality is a fluid filled sack (cyst) or a solid mass that may need further evaluation.
When do you need a breast ultrasound?
- Your physician wants to look at a specific area of your breast that was abnormal during a mammogram
- You or your provider feel a lump in your breast
- You have a specific area of pain within your breast
- Suspected issue with breast implant
- You have dense breast tissue. Ultrasound may be ordered as an additional test as a part of routine cancer screening.
- Breast ultrasound may be used during a biopsy
How should I prepare for my ultrasound?
- Please do not wear deodorant or powder under the arms the day of the procedure.
- You’ll need to remove all clothing above your waist. You will be provided with a hospital gown that opens in the front to wear. It is recommended to wear a two-piece outfit, rather than a one-piece dress or jumpsuit.
What should I expect during my ultrasound?
- You will lie on an exam table and the ultrasound technologist will help position you with your arm over your head,
- A clear, water-based gel will be applied to your breast
- A transducer will be placed on your breast and positioned to get the images needed
- Images will be shared with the radiologists who will interpret the images and let you know if any follow-up tests or procedures are needed.
- Biopsy is sometimes recommended based on the results of the ultrasound
Breast MRI
What is a Breast MRI?
Breast MRI is a non-invasive exam that uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to create three-dimensional pictures of the inside of the breast. These pictures can be examined on a computer monitor. There is no radiation to the patient undergoing breast MRI.
The exam can provide important information about breast conditions that may or may not be available with mammography or breast ultrasound. Breast MRI can be helpful to:
- Determine the full extent of malignant disease in the affected and opposite breast in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients
- Identify early breast cancer in high-risk patients and patients with dense breasts
- Further evaluate abnormalities incompletely assessed on ultrasound and mammography
- Assess the effectiveness of chemotherapy
- Determine the integrity of breast implants
How should I prepare for my MRI?
- Jewelry, watches, credit cards, hearing aids, pins, zippers and other metallic items such as pens, body piercings, eyeglasses, and pocketknives must be removed before the exam to limit distortion of images.
- Patients with pacemakers, defibrillators, cochlear ear implants and some brain aneurysm clips cannot be scanned and should not enter the MRI scanning area.
- To effectively assess the breasts for malignant disease, contrast material must be administered. If your kidney function is abnormal, we may not be able to do the exam.
- If you have a history of kidney disease or are more than 65 years old, your kidney function will be tested prior to administering contrast for your breast MRI.
What should I expect during the MRI?
- You may be asked to wear a hospital gown or clothing without zippers or snaps (such as sweatpants and t-shirt). Certain types of metal can cause blurry images
- You will lie on a narrow table, which slides into a large tunnel-shaped scanner
- During the MRI, the person who operates the machine will watch you from another room. The test lasts about 30-60 minutes.
When should I call my provider?
- If you detect a new or changing lump in your breast tissue
- If you notice any changes to breast tissue, including dimpling, scaling, redness
- If you have any nipple discharge or a new inversion (a nipple that’s pointing in when it used to point out or vice versa)
- If you think that a breast implant has ruptured