Breast sonography

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Breast ultrasound is the name given to the ultrasound examination of the breast. The doctor performs them in addition to the palpation examination, especially if he has discovered an abnormality during palpation. Breast ultrasound should not be confused with mammography, the x-ray of the breast. Here you can read everything you need to know about breast ultrasound, how it is used and what findings it can bring!

Ultrasound (breast): who is it for?

Younger patients often have very dense breast tissue. It can only be assessed poorly with a chest x-ray (mammography). In the chest ultrasound, however, the doctor can better recognize possible changes. In addition, it does not contain any radiation exposure like mammography. This is why this method of breast examination is also preferred during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The density of the mammary gland tissue usually decreases with age, and mammography is the method of choice to detect and clarify changes in breast tissue (such as breast cancer). In older patients, breast ultrasound is therefore only used as a supplementary diagnostic method if the mammography findings are unclear or suspicious.

When is breast ultrasound performed?

If the doctor can feel a lump or other changes during the palpation of the breast, breast ultrasound is used. With their help, lumps, swellings, fluid accumulations or other causes of unclear chest pain can be clarified.

Breast ultrasound also gives the doctor a good view when taking tissue samples (biopsy) from the breast. On the ultrasound image, he can see exactly where to stick the puncture needle.

Further areas of application are follow-up care after breast cancer or particularly thorough preventive care if there is a lot of breast cancer in the family.

The best time for the examination for women before menopause is shortly after the menstrual period. The tissue of the breast is best visible at this point due to hormonal changes.

How does breast sonography work?

First, the doctor asks you to free your upper body. For the examination, you will have to lie on your back with your arms raised or folded behind your head. This flattens the chest and allows the sound waves to penetrate the tissue better.

The doctor now applies ultrasound gel to the transducer and moves it over the surface of the chest at different angles. On the connected monitor, he can now see the breast tissue and the associated lymph nodes in the armpit. The entire examination usually takes no longer than a quarter of an hour.

What are the risks of breast ultrasound?

Good to know: Breast ultrasound only works with ultrasound waves. In contrast to mammography, it does not cause any radiation exposure for the patient. This is particularly important when examining pregnant women or while breastfeeding! Breast ultrasound does not pose any particular risks.

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