Why do i need a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound

Women must be told dense tissue increases their risk of breast cancer and makes mammogram results harder to read. Ask them to discuss your optimal annual screening plan. A mammogram uses regular x-ray technology. Fatty tissue shows up as gray and dense tissue shows up white. A cancerous tumor would also show up as white. Ultrasound uses sound waves that bounce off tissue. Different tissue makes very different echo patterns.

For example, a fluid-filled cyst looks different than a solid tumor. Cramer said radiologists correlate mammograms and ultrasounds. The mammogram shows them a full picture of the breast and where the dense tissue is located. Is a breast ultrasound better than a mammogram? Though a doctor might order both as a follow-up after an abnormal screening mammogram, there are several notable differences in the procedures.

Some distinctions between the two are as follows. Breast ultrasound is not currently a recommended screening tool for breast cancer, because it can miss many early signs of a tumor. Some patients might be better candidates for an ultrasound compared to a mammogram. Pregnant women should usually avoid having x-rays performed unless the imaging is essential. A breast ultrasound might be a suitable alternative to a mammogram during pregnancy.

A breast ultrasound might also be a better option for younger women, particularly those in their 20s. Schedule An Appointment at Health Images. The medical care and treatment that is right for one person might not be ideal for another. Your medical provider can help you decide whether a diagnostic mammogram or an ultrasound of the breasts is the best choice for you.

Here are some factors that might influence the decision you make with your health care provider. Health Images offers both mammography and ultrasound imaging services at our locations in Colorado. Both types of mammograms use low-dose X-rays to examine the breast. They may use either the standard 2-dimensional digital mammography or 3-D mammograms known as tomosynthesis.

While the technology is basically the same, there are a few key differences between screening and diagnostic mammograms that you should know:. The earlier cancer is caught, the more treatment options that are available - and the better chance for recovery.

Going into Beaumont to ha There are two different types - screening mammograms and diagnostic mammograms - and some important differences between the two.