Ultrasound examination (USG) is one of the preventive examinations enabling early detection of breast cancer. It is a test that uses ultrasonic waves - non-invasive and completely safe, so it can be repeated as often as you want. Ultrasound allows the detection of even small changes in the breasts and enables preliminary distinction between benign and potentially malignant changes. Complementary tests are breast mammography and breast biopsy - the doctor decides whether these tests are necessary.
Breast ultrasound examination should be performed regularly in every woman, especially in the case of a burden in the family history and in the event of detection of any changes in the palpation examination.
Make an appointment now - to the doctor performing breast ultrasound in our hospital
[title]
[image-intro]
[readmore text="Read more"]{/article}
When is the best time to do a breast ultrasound?
Currently, there are no indications of ultrasound between the 1st - 10th day due to better and better ultrasound equipment, which allows for the examination of the determination of the breast in each cycle. Recommendations as to the frequency of performance (depending on the author of the work) are variable, but in the case of repeating that the ultrasound after 30 years of age should be repeated every 1-2 years (in the case of the reference pattern in the ultrasound and palpation pattern). In the appearance of new changes, general pain, etc., should occur. At the same time, every woman from the age of 20 can adapt to rescue, assessing:
size, shape and symmetry of the breasts,
discoloration of the skin and nipples,
applets of all materials, lumps and palpable nodules,
Breast self-examination in the foreground at the same time as the release was when the first courses are awarded.
Indications for breast ultrasound
Breast changes that should be alarming and are an indication for a breast ultrasound:
a sore lump in your breasts
palpable painless change in the breast,
general breast pain independent of the day of the cycle,
the presence of discharge from the nipple,
retraction of the nipple to the nipple.
You are at increased risk of developing breast cancer if you:
family burden - mother's, grandmother's breast cancer, presence of BRCA1 / BRCA2 gene mutations,
hormonal disorders,
use of hormone replacement therapy,
obesity,
improper diet, use of stimulants.
Women at high risk of developing breast cancer who have a higher family history of breast cancer or have a confirmed mutation for breast cancer should have an ultrasound, mammography or mammogram of breast cancer every 6 months, alternating according to their doctor's recommendations.
Preparation
Breast ultrasound does not require any special preparation. There is no need to have a referral - ultrasound can be performed by any woman who wants to check her breast condition. If you have previously had breast ultrasound or mammography, bring the results with you. Not all changes can be unequivocally classified as suspicious during a single examination, any differences in the size or morphology of changes in the observation make it easier for the doctor to assess and make a correct diagnosis.
What does a breast ultrasound look like?
Breast ultrasound examination is preceded by a basic medical interview, which usually includes questions about:
the date of the last menstruation,
number of births,
periods of breastfeeding,
used hormonal treatment (contraception, hormone replacement therapy),
a family history of cancer (breast cancer, ovarian cancer),
breast imaging examinations performed so far (ultrasound, mammography, magnetic resonance imaging),
the possible presence of a nipple leak,
past breast injuries,
the treatment of breast lesions currently underway.
The doctor then performs a palpation examination of the breasts:
the structure of the breast and lymph nodes is assessed for the presence of thickenings and nodules,
The patient's palpation is performed in a standing or lying position.
Breast ultrasound examination includes ultrasound examination of the nipples and adjacent lymph nodes.
A medical gel is applied to the surface of the skin,
The doctor places a special head on the breast,
To accurately assess the structure of the breast, the doctor may press the probe more firmly against the breast or change the position of the breast during the examination. This allows for a precise assessment of:
preglandular, glandular and glandular parts of the breast,
breast tissue behind the nipple,
the contents of the milk pipes,
the degree of deformation of possible focal changes.
The doctor then places an ultrasound transducer against the spine of the armpit to assess the lymph nodes where a fluid called lymph flows from the breast through the lymph vessels of the breast.
What changes can be recognized in breast ultrasound?
During breast ultrasound, your doctor may find abnormal changes, such as:
swelling, inflammation, scarring of the skin of the breasts,
widening of the milk ducts (outside the lactation period),
solid focal changes,
fluid-filled lesions (cysts, abscesses, hematomas, other fluid reservoirs),
inflammatory changes in the glandular tissue of the breast.
Ultrasound examination and risk assessment of breast cancer
According to the PTU guidelines, the BI-RADS scale should be the summary of the breast ultrasound result, which numerically informs about the risk of the presence of malignant lesions.
The BIRADS scale has six levels (0-6), which inform about the risk of malignancy of changes:
0 - incomplete assessment of the breast condition to apply for the BIRADS grade,
1 - correct image of the breast,
2 - clearly benign lesions,
3 - lesions possibly benign, with a malignancy risk lower than 2%,
4 - suspicious lesions, without the typical features of benign lesions on USG examination, with a malignancy risk of 2-90%, breast biopsy indicated,
5 - lesions with a typical morphology of malignant lesions, risk of malignancy above 90%, breast biopsy indicated,
6 - malignant changes confirmed by biopsy.
A correctly prepared breast ultrasound result includes a description of the ultrasound features of the lesions according to the requirements of the Polish Ultrasound Society (PTU), information on the structure of the breast, a description of the location of the lesions and their exact size. The ultrasound description should also include a summary in the form of malignancy risk assessment on the BI-RADS scale with reference to the previously performed breast ultrasound. The doctor may also order additional diagnostic tests.
Many women wonder where it is best to do a breast ultrasound and what qualifications the doctor performing the examination should have. The credibility of the ultrasound result depends on the level of training and experience of the doctor and the quality of the ultrasound machine on which the test is performed.
At the Dworska Hospital in Krakow, breast ultrasound examinations are performed by radiologists specializing in the radiological evaluation of soft tissues, with particular emphasis on changes in the breasts. Our center is accredited by the Polish Ultrasound Society, which proves the high standard of ultrasound examinations performed. What distinguishes our studio:
Doctors can use ultrasound heads with a very wide frequency range (from 4.0 to 17.0 MHz). The possibility of high-frequency imaging of tissues (17.0 MHz) allows the detection and assessment of the structure of even very small changes in the breast.
The Doppler function allows to determine the degree of blood supply to the lesions,
Special types of breast ultrasound
Pregnant breast ultrasound
Due to its harmlessness, breast ultrasound is the recommended method for assessing breast changes during pregnancy. The examination is completely safe for the fetus, there is no x-ray radiation (unlike mammography). The course of breast ultrasound examination in a pregnant woman is identical to that in a non-pregnant woman.
Breast ultrasound before implantation
Before performing any surgical procedure in the area of the breast, it is necessary to carefully examine its structure and exclude any pathological changes. Confirmation of the proper condition of the breast is necessary for the planned surgery to be safe and without complications.
Breast ultrasound with implants
Women with breast implants should especially use the services of professional ultrasound laboratories. This is due to the fact that the diagnosis of natural glandular tissue in the presence of artificial implants is somewhat difficult. Doctors examining breasts with implants should have experience in this field.
Breast ultrasound after mastectomy or sparing treatment
Ultrasound is a valuable method of assessing the left breast and scar tissue. In the period immediately after the procedure, it enables the assessment of pathological fluid reservoirs (hematomas, lymph reservoirs), inflammatory reaction and the degree of healing. In the later period, it is mainly used to detect possible foci of cancer recurrence.
Male breast ultrasound
Breast ultrasound diagnosis in men includes the same examination elements as in women: history, palpation and breast ultrasound. The BIRADS scale is used in a similar way - men are also at risk of developing breast cancer. In general, healthy men do not have glandular tissue like women. Men with hormonal disorders may develop glandular tissue (gynecomastia) or build up of excess fat in the breasts (steatomastia). These men have an increased risk of breast cancer. Whenever a suspicious change appears, you should see your doctor for an ultrasound of the breast.
Source:
Jakubowski W, Dobruch-Sobczak K, Migda B. Standardy badań ultrasonograficznych Polskiego Towarzystwa Ultrasonograficznego - aktualizacja. Badanie sonomammograficzne. Journal of Ultrasonography 2012; 12: 245–261.
Frequently asked questions about breast ultrasound:
Breast ultrasound examination can be performed on any day of the cycle - at the Dworska Hospital in Krakow, we have equipment that enables precise assessment of changes, regardless of the day of the cycle.
Ultrasound is performed by a radiologist or gynecologist trained in breast ultrasound diagnostics.
Every woman can come to a breast ultrasound without the need for a referral. Ultrasound is an easily accessible, fast and completely safe method of imaging. Breast ultrasound can be repeated without restrictions, therefore it is the most frequently performed examination at the beginning of the diagnosis of suspicious changes. During the ultrasound examination, the doctor may order a mammogram if he deems it necessary. Mammography is more often ordered in women over 50 because it is better suited for imaging breasts with less glandular tissue.
