Patient education: Breast ultrasound (The Basics)

What is a breast ultrasound? — A breast ultrasound is an imaging test that creates pictures of your breast tissue. Ultrasounds use sound waves to create pictures of the inside of the body.

Your doctor might want you to have a breast ultrasound if you:

●Had an abnormal mammogram result – Mammogram is the main test used for breast cancer screening. If you had a mammogram and your result was abnormal, you might have a breast ultrasound as a follow-up test.

●Need to have a biopsy – A biopsy can be done to check for breast cancer if other tests are abnormal. For this test, a doctor takes a small sample of tissue using a needle, then looks at it under a microscope. An ultrasound helps the doctor know where to insert the needle for the biopsy.

●Have a breast lump – A breast ultrasound can show if the lump is solid or filled with fluid. A solid lump could be a sign of cancer.

How do I prepare for a breast ultrasound? — Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to do anything special to prepare.

The staff will ask you about your "health history." This involves asking you questions about any health problems you have or had in the past, past surgeries, and any medicines you take.

You should:

●Avoid using powder or lotion on the day of your appointment.

●Wear a shirt or other clothing that is easy to remove.

What happens during a breast ultrasound? — When it is time for your breast ultrasound (figure 1):

●You will undress from the waist up and remove any necklaces. You will put on a hospital cape or gown.

●You will lie on an exam table.

●The person doing your ultrasound will apply gel to your breasts. This is to make the ultrasound picture clearer.

●The person doing your ultrasound will hold a "transducer" to your skin and move it over your breast. The transducer is also called a "probe" or "wand." It sends sound waves through your breast tissue to create pictures.

What happens after a breast ultrasound? — A doctor called a "radiologist" will look at your ultrasound. If they can look at it right away, you might get the results the same day. If not, you should get a phone call, letter, or other notification with your results later.

If you do not hear back about your results within 2 weeks, call the office or hospital where you had your breast ultrasound, or your doctor's office. Do not assume that your ultrasound was normal if you hear nothing.

What are the risks of a breast ultrasound? — Your doctor will talk to you about all of the possible risks and answer your questions. Possible risks include:

●False positives – A breast ultrasound can sometimes give a "false-positive" result. This means that it suggests that you might have cancer when you actually do not. This can lead to unneeded worry and to more tests, including biopsies, which can be painful.

More on this topic

Patient education: Breast cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Breast cancer screening (The Basics)
Patient education: Cancer screening (The Basics)
Patient education: Common breast problems (The Basics)
Patient education: Breast biopsy (The Basics)
Patient education: Sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Mammogram (The Basics)

Patient education: Breast cancer screening (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Breast cancer guide to diagnosis and treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Factors that affect breast cancer risk in women (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Common breast problems (Beyond the Basics)