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Screening Breast Ultrasound
In women who are high risk or have dense breast tissue, a screening breast ultrasound may be recommended in addition to the annual screening mammogram.
Studies have shown that there is an increase in the cancer detection rate of 20-30% in this population when a screening ultrasound is added to the mammogram (Radiology, Aug 2002, Kolb T.). The benefit is due to the fact that breast tissue is radiographically white and tumors are white making them difficult if not impossible to find.
On Ultrasound, the breast tissue is sonographically white, however the the tumors are “grey” thereby increasing the sensitivity of detection. In woman who are high risk. It may be recommended that a screening breast ultrasound be performed every six months.
In woman with dense tissue and who are not at high risk, the option of alternating the annual mammogram with the ultrasound at six month intervals is an option so that you can be imaged twice a year. This allows detection of possible cancers which can develop in between the yearly mammograms (interval cancers).
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