Ultrasound forms images of the breast utilizing sound waves, not X-rays. No compression is required; a warm gel is placed on the skin and an ultrasound probe is rubbed over the skin to obtain the image. Ultrasound can often show abnormalities which might go undetected on mammography due to extremely dense breast tissue. Ultrasound is used most commonly in conjunction with mammography, not as a replacement for mammography.

According to the ACR (American College of Radiology), an ultrasound is not used as a screening tool for breast imaging. An ultrasound is used in conjunction with a mammogram to image the breast tissue differently. It can tell if images in the breast are fluid filled, a cyst, a benign condition, or is a solid nodule. Not all solid nodules are cancer. Ultrasound can detect abnormalities in the breast via sound waves. There is no radiation with an ultrasound.

Ultrasound allows us to see the soft tissues in your body. Sound waves bounce off of things. You may be familiar with the use of sonar in submarines! The Ultrasound machine converts the echoes (or bounces of sound waves) into pictures. We can tell a lot about the contents of various parts of the body by using this simple, easily tolerated test. Ultrasound does not show us your bone structure; x-rays do that very well. The gall bladder is commonly evaluated with Ultrasound as a first test.

For screening mammogram patients, our goal is that their exams will be perfomed and completed in 15 minutes. These exams will be interpreted by the radiologist within 1-2 working days, and letters will be mailed to the patient’s home address upon interpretation. Diagnostic mammography often is a longer exam, because additional images and possibly ultrasound are performed. These patients are given their results at the time of their exam, both verbally and in writing.

Yes. Unlike mammography and ultrasound, Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) is a test of physiology. It detects and records the infrared heat radiating from the surface of the body. It can help in early detection and monitoring of abnormal physiology and the establishment of risk factors for the development or existence of cancer. Mammography and ultrasound are tests of anatomy. They look at structure.

ultrasound test is a radiology technique, which uses high- frequency sound waves to produce images of the organs and structures of the body. The sound waves are sent through body tissues with a device called a transducer. The transducer is placed directly on top of the skin, which has a gel applied to the surface. The sound waves that are sent by the transducer through the body are then reflected by internal structures as "echoes.

A) Tiny calcifications or pieces of calcium are a common indication of breast cancer seen on a Mammogram. Ultrasound CANNOT detect these calcifications, therefore the Mammogram is necessary for accurate breast cancer screening. A) All changes in your mammogram from year to year must be carefully evaluated. Some changes in the breast can indicate breast cancer formation. The radiologist uses the previous films to provide a more thorough evaluation.

Montclair Breast Center, we have only fellowship trained or subspecialized dedicated breast imaging specialists. Research has shown that these specialists will find up to 40% more cancers than a general radiologist who often reads mammograms at other centers. The experience, training and skills of the physician evaluating the mammogram is even more important than the technology used. Here we have the benefit of the best of both physicians and technology.

Current guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) all recommend that screening mammography be performed every year beginning at the age of 40.