Breast Ultrasound
The Breast Center at the RWJBarnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center in Livingston, NJ, offers the latest in screening and diagnostic imaging tools to help detect and diagnose breast cancer.
Breast ultrasound, also known as breast sonography, uses sound waves to produce images of the tissues inside the breast, including the area closest to the chest wall. Ultrasound is non-invasive and does not use ionizing radiation, so there is no radiation exposure.
Breast ultrasound is used to:
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Determine the nature of a breast abnormality. The primary use of breast ultrasound today is to help diagnose breast abnormalities
detected by a patient on breast self-examination, or by a physician during
a physical exam.
Ultrasound imaging is useful for determining if an abnormality is solid, fluid-filled or a combination of both. - Check abnormalities found on a mammogram. Mammography is the only breast cancer screening tool that is known to reduce breast cancer-related deaths through early detection. However, mammograms do not detect all breast cancers. Some breast lesions and abnormalities are not visible or are difficult to interpret on mammograms, especially in breasts that are dense. Ultrasound can help supplement mammography, allowing a fuller examination of the breast tissue. Ultrasound is also useful as a screening tool in women who are pregnant or should not be exposed to x-rays, which are necessary for a mammogram.
Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy
When a suspicious breast abnormality is found on ultrasound, a physician may recommend an ultrasound-guided biopsy. In this type of biopsy, ultrasound is used to identify the position of the abnormality and to verify correct placement of the biopsy needle.
Conveniently located at the RWJBarnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center in Livingston, NJ, The Breast Center's goal is to exceed the individual expectations of each patient, to decrease the stress commonly associated with breast testing, and to promote breast health and wellness.
