Patient Information - Breast Exam

What You Should Know About Your Ultrasound Examination
Your doctor has requested an ultrasound examination of your breast...you may have heard about ultrasound examinations (sonograms), but you still may have unanswered questions. The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) - an organization of doctors, sonographers, and scientists - has put together information to help answer some of the most commonly asked questions.

What Is Ultrasound?
Ultrasound is like ordinary sound except it has a frequency (or pitch) higher than people can hear. When sent into the body from a handheld device called a transducer (scanner) resting on your skin, the sound is reflected off internal structures. The returning echoes are received by the transducer and converted electronically into an image on a monitor. These continually changing images can be recorded on videotape or film. Diagnostic ultrasound is commonly called sonography.

Is Ultrasound Safe?
There are no known harmful effects associated with the medical use of sonography. Widespread clinical use of diagnostic ultrasound for many years has not revealed any harmful effects. Studies in humans have revealed no direct link between the use of diagnostic ultrasound and any adverse outcomes. Although the possibility exists that biological effects may be identified in the future, current information indicates that the benefits to patients far outweigh any potential risks. The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine has a Bioeffects Committee that meets regularly to consider safety issues and evaluate reports dealing with bioeffects and the safety of ultrasound.

Why Do I Need a Breast Ultrasound Examination?
Information obtained from a breast physical examination alone often is incomplete. Breast sonography, used in conjunction with a physical exam and/or a mammogram, can identify cysts, tumors, abscesses, lymph nodes, and very dense breast tissue. In some cases, a tissue sample (biopsy) of a suspicious area is necessary to make a specific diagnosis. If a biopsy is needed, sonography can be used to guide the needle without the need for surgery. Aspiration (removal of fluid) of breast cysts is also commonly performed using ultrasound guidance.

How Is Breast Sonography Performed?
You will be asked to remove your top and bra. A paper or cloth gown will be given to you to cover yourself. You will be instructed to lie or sit on an examining table. Gel will be placed on your skin and a transducer will be moved over the area to be examined. The gel may feel cool and may temporarily stain clothes, so you may want to wear easily washable clothing. The room is usually darkened during the examination. After the exam, you can drive home safely and eat and drink normally.

The examiner may feel the area for any lumps while performing the examination. No pain is involved in this type of examination but there is a pressure sensation. The images obtained are seen on a monitor or stored on film or videotape.

Who Will Do the Examination?
The examination is usually performed by a specially trained health care professional called a sonographer or by a doctor trained in sonography. The images obtained from the exam will be interpreted by a doctor. This interpretation may not be available immediately after you have your exam. In some cases, the doctor will also examine you to confirm or resolve uncertain or unclear findings. Based on the images, a recommendation may be made for a biopsy or drainage procedure to be performed using ultrasound as a guide.

What Are the Limitations of This Examination?
Results of the examination may vary depending on the type of breast tissue you have. If a suspicious area noted on mammography cannot be seen with ultrasound, it will be evaluated by other means. Your doctor will discuss these options with you during a future appointment.

How Much Does the Exam Cost?
The price of an ultrasound examination varies widely depending on the reason for the exam and the complexity of the equipment used. Generally, insurance companies will help cover the cost of ultrasound examinations of the breast requested by your doctor.

Last updated June 2003