Breast Cancer Ultrasound: Purpose, Preparation, and Results

A breast cancer ultrasound, also known as a breast ultrasound, is a medical imaging procedure. It helps healthcare providers look closely at your breast tissue. An ultrasound technician or radiologist performs this test.

Ultrasound tests use sound waves and their echoes to produce computer images of the inside of your body. They can show changes that are difficult to see on mammograms, X-rays that are used to screen for breast cancer. 

The purpose of a breast ultrasound is to look for any changes in your breast tissue. A healthcare provider may recommend a breast ultrasound for the following reasons:

• You have a new or changing lump in your breast
• You received an abnormal mammogram test result 
• You have a breast lump that you or your healthcare provider can feel, but that didn’t show up on a mammogram 
• You have dense breast tissue, which is difficult to examine with a mammogram
• You need an ultrasound-guided biopsy

Breast changes are very common and usually not caused by cancer. For example, your breasts may change throughout the month due to hormonal changes and menstrual cycles. Still, getting any changes checked out by a healthcare provider is a good idea.

The two types of breast ultrasound are diagnostic and guidance ultrasounds. 

Diagnostic ultrasounds provide detailed images of your breast tissue, such as whether a mass is solid or liquid. This information can help your healthcare team distinguish noncancerous fluid-filled cysts from potentially cancerous solid tumors. 

Your healthcare team may also use a breast ultrasound to guide a different diagnostic test called a biopsy. During a biopsy, the healthcare provider uses a needle to take a tissue sample from a mass to test it for cancer cells. Your provider will likely use ultrasound to guide the needle into the correct area of your breast or nearby lymph node. 

A breast ultrasound is not an invasive procedure, and very little preparation is needed. However, it’s normal to feel nervous or apprehensive about the test and results. Knowing what to expect may help ease some of your concerns.

Your healthcare provider will likely perform the ultrasound in an outpatient clinic or hospital radiology department. Plan to wear a comfortable outfit and be ready to undress from the waist up. You may be given a hospital gown to wear. On the morning of your test, avoid applying lotion or deodorant, and don’t wear jewelry on your neck or chest area.

Bring a photo identification card, such as a driver’s license, and your insurance information if you have and plan to use insurance. Your insurance provider may cover a breast ultrasound. Before your appointment, you can call your insurance company and the hospital billing department to ask about your coverage and any possible copays. 

If you have questions about your health ahead of the imaging test, it may help to write them down so you remember to ask your healthcare provider. 

During a breast ultrasound, the ultrasound technician or radiologist places a handheld tool, called an ultrasound transducer, on your breast to produce images on a computer screen. The procedure is usually quick and painless. 

During the Test

Your healthcare provider will help you position your body and gown so they can take images. They will then apply ultrasound gel to the transducer or your breast.

The technician or radiologist will place the handheld transducer on your skin and slowly move it to visualize your breast tissue. While the wand may feel cold on your skin, you can expect not to feel any pain or discomfort. 

If you need a break or have a question at any point during the test, you can talk with your healthcare provider. 

The ultrasound procedure is usually pretty quick, taking up to half an hour.

After the Test

After a breast ultrasound, your provider may use a clean towel to wipe off any ultrasound gel. Once you are dressed and ready to go, you can resume your daily activities, including driving if you drove.

Your provider will likely tell you how long to wait for results and how the healthcare team will communicate those results with you. 

A breast ultrasound is considered a low-risk test. It is noninvasive, so there is no increased risk of infection or bleeding. There is also no radiation exposure from an ultrasound. The test is typically pain-free and simple.

You can expect your healthcare team to contact you once your breast ultrasound results are ready. After your exam, a radiologist will review the images of your breast tissue and determine if there are any areas of concern. 

Medical doctors interpret breast ultrasounds using the same system they use for mammograms. The system is called the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). It makes interpreting and communicating your results simpler and more accurate. 

Once your results are ready, the healthcare provider who requested the test will contact you by phone, email, or through a patient portal.

Interpreting Your Results

Breast ultrasound results are usually classified as:

• Negative (no findings except normal breast tissue) or benign (noncancerous)
• Probably benign
• Abnormal

Negative results indicate that the breast tissue appears normal and there are no signs of cancer or other changes. Benign results indicate that changes are noted but are not concerning for cancer.

Abnormal test results could indicate that there were signs of a health condition, such as:

• Breast cancer
• Fluid-filled cysts
• Fibroadenomas (noncancerous tumors)
• Lipomas (noncancerous fatty lumps)

If your results are abnormal, your healthcare provider may recommend further testing, such as a biopsy or mammogram.

A breast ultrasound is a simple imaging test healthcare providers use to examine your breast tissue and look for signs of cancer or other conditions. The test uses sound waves and echoes to create digital images.

An ultrasound may detect changes that a mammogram doesn’t. Breast ultrasounds are especially helpful for people with dense breast tissue, which can interfere with mammogram results. 

After your test, a radiologist will review your findings and contact you with your results. If your results are abnormal, your healthcare provider may recommend further testing.