What Is This Scan?
A breast ultrasound is a safe, painless examination that uses high-frequency sound waves to evaluate the breast tissue and the surrounding underarm (axillary) lymph nodes. It is commonly used to investigate breast lumps, pain, nipple discharge and abnormalities detected on clinical examination or other imaging studies.
Breast ultrasound is an excellent complementary imaging examination to mammography and is particularly useful in younger women and those with dense breast tissue. A normal breast ultrasound result does not completely exclude breast cancer, as there are sonographically occult cancers. It does not use ionising radiation.
At IMPACT Radiology, our examinations are performed using premium ultrasound equipment by experienced sonographers and interpreted by specialist radiologists with expertise in breast imaging. Every examination is tailored to your symptoms and clinical history to ensure a thorough and targeted assessment.
Conditions We Commonly Assess
Breast Lumps
- Simple cysts
- Complicated cysts
- Fibroadenomas
- Fat necrosis
- Lipomas
- Breast abscesses
- Benign breast lesions
- Suspicious breast masses
- Breast cancer
Breast Symptoms
- Breast pain
- Palpable lumps
- Focal breast thickening
- Nipple discharge
- Skin thickening
- Breast inflammation (mastitis)
Breast Implants
- Implant-related fluid collections
- Peri-implant masses
- Selected implant complications
Axillary (Underarm) Lymph Nodes
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Reactive lymph nodes
- Suspicious lymph nodes
- Assessment for breast cancer staging
Follow-up Imaging
- Monitoring previously identified breast lesions
- Assessment of interval changes
- Imaging surveillance where appropriate
Why Might My Doctor Request This Scan?
Your doctor may request a breast ultrasound if you have:
- A breast lump
- Breast pain
- Nipple discharge
- Breast swelling
- Changes to the skin or nipple
- A lump detected during clinical examination
- An abnormal mammogram
- Dense breast tissue requiring further evaluation
- Follow-up of a known breast lesion
- Breast symptoms during pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Assessment of enlarged underarm lymph nodes
Preparation
No special preparation is required.
Please avoid applying powders, lotions or creams to your breasts on the day of your examination if possible.
Wear comfortable two-piece clothing, as you will be asked to remove clothing from the waist up and wear a gown during the examination.
If you have had previous breast imaging performed elsewhere, please bring the images or arrange for them to be available for comparison whenever possible.
What Happens During the Scan?
During the examination, you will lie comfortably on the examination bed while warm ultrasound gel is applied to the breast.
The sonographer will carefully examine the area of concern as well as the surrounding breast tissue using a high-frequency ultrasound probe. If clinically indicated, the underarm (axillary) lymph nodes will also be assessed.
At IMPACT Radiology, every breast ultrasound is tailored to your individual symptoms rather than simply following a routine protocol. Particular attention is paid to the exact area of concern, with careful correlation between your symptoms, clinical examination and imaging findings.
Most breast ultrasound examinations take 20–30 minutes.
