Breast ultrasound technique

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is expertly consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Hong Hai - Doctor of Radiology - Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
Breast cancer is a disease that has become widespread and poses a high risk of death for women. Therefore, screening and early detection of breast cancer is extremely necessary and can be done through breast ultrasound technology.

1. What is a breast ultrasound?

Breast ultrasound (ultrasound mammogram) is a commonly used medical imaging technique. Breast ultrasound uses ultrasound waves to build and reconstruct images of the internal structures of the breast and body.
Today, this is considered a safe, simple, low cost, non-toxic method with quick results. More specifically, the breast ultrasound technique is painless and can be used by all ages, from young to old and in all genders. Therefore, it is very popularly used in the world and in Vietnam in the diagnosis and detection of abnormalities in the breast, especially in breast cancer screening.

2. When is a breast ultrasound indicated?

Breast ultrasound is indicated for all cases of suspected pathology and to contribute to the assessment of the nature of breast lesions. Typical are the following groups of pathologies:
Breast tumor, inflammatory mass and breast abscess. Traumatic suspected hematoma and contusion of the chest and breast The most common types of fistula in the breast are to find the cause, the related cause of the odf line. Diseases with enlarged lymph nodes in the chest Bone disease, related organs suspected of invasive destruction of the breast At the professional request of the treating doctor. In addition, some of the following subjects need to take the initiative to go to the doctor and may request a breast ultrasound:
Women about 20-30 years old detect abnormal signs in the breast: At this age, if detected If you have symptoms mentioned above, you should go to medical facilities for examination and timely advice. Women 35 years of age and older: Doctors recommend that women over 35 years old should have regular checkups every 6 months to detect health risks early. Especially those with a family history of breast cancer. Women with early menarche (under 12 years old), late menopause (after age 55): early menarche or late menopause also have a high risk of breast cancer, so it is important to check in time.

3. Accuracy of breast ultrasound

Ultrasound diagnosis of breast disease has high accuracy, can diagnose relatively small lesions less than 5mm in diameter, has positive value in early cancer detection.
However, whether breast ultrasound is accurate or not depends on many factors such as machine, level, and experience of the sonographer.

4. What to prepare for a breast ultrasound?

4.1 Implementation staff

Must be a radiologist or sonographer. The technician or nurse has been instructed to record the results and return the results to the patient.

4.2 Accompanying equipment and supplies

Ultrasound machine, ultrasonic photo printer. Computer and paper printer to type results and print results for patients. Ultrasound gel, sterile gloves for doctors, masks for doctors, ultrasound photo paper, A4 paper for printing results, patient wipes, box (or bucket) of patient wipes, cover patient, pillow, bed sheet.

4.3 Patient

Explain some of the information necessary for the patient to understand and cooperate.

5. Breast ultrasound technique

5.1 Prepare the working room

Check the power line from the input source to the machine equipment to ensure absolute safety for staff and patients. Turn on the air conditioner and fan or heater depending on the season. Prepare the patient's bed Turn on the computer and print the results. Turn on the ultrasound machine and the ultrasound imaging printer in standby mode.

5.2 The technician calls the patient into the room:

Request to check the correct personal information and specify the patient's ultrasound request. Instruct the patient to lie on the bed and expose both breasts. Cover the discreet parts concerned with a towel.

5.3 Doctor chooses flat transducer and software program

Apply gel on transducer Perform ultrasound technique of lesions through ultrasound cuts. Ultrasound can be done in other positions such as lying on the side, sitting.. depending on the case. Ultrasound of both breasts is required for ease of comparison and diagnosis. During the process, if it is necessary to explain more to the patient and the patient's family, to understand and coordinate the implementation. When done, wipe the gel off the patient's body with a clean towel, then send the patient to the waiting room for the results.

6. Analysis of breast ultrasound results

Print ultrasound images Synthesize the obtained breast ultrasound images to read the results for the recording technician. The lesion should be carefully described and its associated effects, if any, to assist the clinician in the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease. If the disease can be diagnosed, then write the conclusion of the disease or guide the diagnosis, if not, just describe the ultrasound image. The sonographer needs to review the results before signing the confirmation. Explain and instruct the patient to take the results back to the doctor appointing Vinmec International General Hospital, which is currently implementing 4 packages of breast cancer screening and screening for many subjects. The examination packages include: Basic package, standard package, advanced package and intensive package, hierarchical according to each group of subjects with increasing risk of breast cancer. With a team of experienced and highly qualified specialists and a system of modern medical equipment, patients will be diagnosed with high accuracy about their health problems and receive advice. the best in the prevention and treatment of diseases.
Master, Doctor Nguyen Hong Hai graduated with a Master's degree in Diagnostic Imaging at Hanoi Medical University with strengths in diagnosing breast and thyroid cancer. Currently, Dr. Hai is working at the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Vinmec Times City International Hospital.
Customers interested in breast cancer screening and screening packages can go directly to Vinmec Health System nationwide or book an appointment online HERE.