Ultrasound
State-of–the-art
Ultrasonography
- The General Electric LogiQ 700 and LogiQ 900
Ultrasound Systems will complement the mammography and MRI
scanner, for
breast imaging. In breast
imaging, it provides for assessment of target lesions
(nodules) to differentiate solid and cystic masses. Breast
lesions
can be identified as biopsy is performed, where indicated.
A number of diseases, such as invasive Lobular Carcinoma,
and
conditions like fibrocystic and dense glandular breasts
are better evaluated when sonography is performed as an adjunct
to mammograms.
- General Ultrasonography and Obstetrical/Gynecological evaluations
are provided to assess everything from endocrine
(glandular) disorders, to abdominal and pelvic complaints,
and vascular
disease of the head and neck, peripheral vessels.
- Pelvis screening ultrasound evaluations will be offered.
Hysterosonography for assessment of the internal uterine
lining in women at risk due to hormonal therapy is available.
Breast Ultrasound
Ultrasound, also called sonography,
is an imaging technique in which high-frequency sound waves
that cannot be heard by humans are bounced off tissues and
internal organs. Their echoes produce a picture called a sonogram.
Ultrasound imaging of the breast is used to distinguish between
solid tumors and fluid-filled cysts. It is also used to characterize
the nature of solid masses. Ultrasound can also be used to
evaluate lumps that are hard to see on a mammogram. Sometimes,
ultrasound is used as part of other diagnostic procedures,
such as needle biopsy or aspiration.
During an ultrasound examination,
the clinician spreads a thin coating of lubricating jelly
over the area to be imaged to improve
conduction of the sound waves. A hand-held device called a
transducer directs the sound waves through the skin toward
specific tissues.
As the sound waves are reflected back from the tissues within
the breast, the patterns formed by the waves create a two-dimensional
image of the breast on a computer. 
Ultrasound is not a substitute
for routine breast cancer screening with mammography because
it does not consistently detect certain
early signs of cancer such as microcalcifications. Microcalcifications
are tiny deposits of calcium in the breast that cannot be
felt but can be seen on a conventional mammogram. A cluster
of microcalcifications
may indicate that cancer is present. |
