Writes Konstantina N. Kyriakopoulou MD,PhD, Director of the Ultrasound Department
The breast ultrasound is a simple, painless, bloodless and inexpensive examination without radiation, necessary for the prevention of…
cancer of the breast. The examination of the ultrasound breast is performed in the supine and upright position with the placement of a gel in the breast and in the axillary region, by radial scanning with the use of a transducer of high frequency. A prerequisite for a proper examination of the ultrasound is a good knowledge and experience of the radiologist and the use of high tech equipment.
The examination of ultrasound of the breast does not replace mammography
The breast ultrasound is a complementary control of mammography, especially in patients who have dense glandular tissue as well as additional control in the clinical examination. If we have a palpable finding, we can see if it is solid or cystic.
The breast ultrasound can’t visualize μικÏοαποτιτανώσεις that we can see on a mammogram and that may be an incipient cancer.
When do breast ultrasound for?
The ultrasound in the breast is the examination of choice in young women where it is not used, the mammogram, in women who are pregnant or those who are breast-feeding.
The breast ultrasound is the examination of choice for the visualization of the cysts as well as reflects better the changes that are inside the pores (ενδοποÏικÎÏ‚ lesions).
The purpose of the ultrasound is to highlight a failure in a dense breast at the initial stage. We can illustrate the morphology of a superficially situated tumour and its relationship with the surrounding tissues. The study with color Doppler us gives you additional information about the perfusion of a superficially situated tumour. Also, the above finding we can do reconstruction with 3D-4D imaging with high-technology machinery that is useful in the imaging of tumors, in relation with the surrounding tissues in the breast area.
When do elastography to you?
A new technique with ultrasound, additional with which we can measure the elasticity of breast tissue is the elastography. The examination of the elastography is done during the ultrasound breast and can show if a nodule is hard or soft, indicating breast cancer. A nodule with increased hardness has an increased chance to be malignant.
In conclusion, the breast ultrasound is a test that can be used for guided needle biopsy (FNA) or download ιστοτεμαχιδίου (Core – Biopsy) and histological biopsy.
The breast ultrasound can help us pre-ops in the placement of a guidewire in an area in which we need to make a surgical exception and the surgeon to go guided.
Also, breast ultrasound combined with elastography can play an important role in the diagnosis of diseases of the breast and prevention of breast cancer. A necessary condition for a proper ultrasound and elastography is the experience of the examiner and the use of high tech equipment.
Source
Ultrasound – Elastography of the Breast: When is it necessary?
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