Breast Ultrasound

Breast ultrasound at The UVM Medical Center

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 check out an area of concern in your breast without the use of radiation. 

Your doctor 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 mammography screening for early cancer detection. 

At The University of Vermont Medical Center, 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 doctor quickly determine whether your breast symptom is a harmless cyst or a more concerning condition. 

Optimizing your breast health, we offer: 

• Nationally endorsed program: The UVM 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 breast imaging radiologists are specially trained in interpreting breast ultrasound exams, ensuring exceptional familiarity with all types of breast symptoms and findings. Focused on your comfort, our professionally-certified breast ultrasound technologists skillfully work to capture high-quality images for the best assessment of your breast problem. 
• State-of-the-art technology: We offer advanced ultrasound machines and equipment for diagnostic breast exams and ultrasound-guided procedures such as breast biopsies. They provide optimal imaging resolution and clarity for both general breast ultrasound and specialized ultrasound-guided procedures. 

Conditions we treat with breast ultrasound

Pain- and radiation-free, ultrasound technology can help to reveal abnormalities within breast tissue that may not show up well on mammograms, such as 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, especially one that can be felt by hand during a physical examination. We routinely perform breast ultrasound for assessing:  

• Mammogram findings 
• Breast lumps or focal breast pain 
• Nipple discharge or changes 
• Pregnant women 

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

What to expect from breast ultrasound

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. 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 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.  

Awards and Certifications

American College of Radiology 

The UVM Medical Center breast ultrasound program meets the rigorous accreditation requirements of the American College of Radiology, ensuring all-around excellence and confirming our commitment to delivering outstanding patient care.