Breast Ultrasound

Breast Ultrasound at UVM Health

A noninvasive diagnostic imaging test, breast ultrasound (sonography) uses high-frequency sound waves to take detailed pictures of the inside of your breasts. Commonly recommended if you have symptoms like a breast lump or to clarify the results of a mammogram, breast ultrasound provides a safe, painless way to evaluate an area of concern in your breast without the use of radiation.

Your provider may recommend a breast ultrasound to supplement regular screening mammography if you have dense breast tissue. Providing additional information, screening breast ultrasound should always be used along with — but never replace — your annual screening mammogram for early cancer detection.

Why Choose UVM Health?

At University of Vermont Health, our team of nationally certified breast ultrasound technologists (sonographers) and specially trained breast imaging radiologists are experienced in performing and interpreting breast ultrasound exams. Delivering timely diagnostic results, we help your provider quickly determine whether your breast symptom is a harmless cyst or a more concerning condition.

Optimizing your breast health, we offer:

Nationally endorsed program: University of Vermont Medical Center maintains accreditation by the American College of Radiology in breast ultrasound. This notable recognition sets the standard for care we deliver to you and means you can expect to receive outstanding breast ultrasound services that meet nationally recognized guidelines of clinical excellence.
Skilled breast ultrasound team: Our board-certified breast imaging radiologists are specially trained in interpreting breast ultrasound exams, ensuring exceptional familiarity with all types of breast symptoms and findings.
State-of-the-art technology: We offer advanced ultrasound machines and equipment for diagnostic breast exams and ultrasound-guided procedures such as breast biopsies.

Conditions We Evaluate with Breast Ultrasound

Painless and radiation-free, ultrasound can help to reveal abnormalities within breast tissue that may not show up well on mammograms, such as some types of tumors and cysts. Breast ultrasound can also show blood flow to areas within your breast.

Breast ultrasound provides a closer look at breast changes detected on your mammogram exam, or when you have a breast symptom. We routinely perform breast ultrasound to assess:

Mammogram findings
Breast lumps or focal breast pain
Nipple discharge or changes
Breast changes associated with pregnancy

Breast ultrasound is also used for screening dense breast tissue and performing image-guided breast biopsies.

What to Expect From a Breast Ultrasound Procedure

Please avoid applying perfumes, powders and lotions on or around your breast and underarm area before arriving at your breast imaging appointment. However, you may wear deodorant or anti-perspirant. At your appointment, you will only need to undress above your waist and put on a hospital gown.

During your ultrasound procedure, you will lie on an examination table. One of our specially trained breast ultrasound technologists (sonographer) will apply a gel to the breast being examined. The gel maximizes contact between the ultrasound probe and your skin to ensure the ultrasound machine produces the best quality images.

The sonographer will gently press a hand-held probe (transducer) against your skin. The transducer sends and receives sound waves from the ultrasound machine to create images of the inside of your breast.

Requesting Your Images

Use the Radiology Image Record Request form to request your imaging records.

When your request has been completed and ready for review, you will receive an email from Nuance Powershare with instructions on how to create an account. Additionally, you will receive a MyChart message containing your token code to access your images.

Awards & Certifications

American College of Radiology

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Breast Ultrasound