Ultrasound vs. Mammogram: Which Breast Cancer Screening Method Is Best for You?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and if it’s been a while since your last breast cancer screening, that means it’s also a great time to schedule an exam. 

Regular breast cancer screenings play a vital role in the early identification of breast cancer — the most common cancer in women in the United States and worldwide (aside from skin cancers).

At Feminine Urgicare, our team understands the critical importance of regular breast screening in identifying and treating breast cancer and other breast cancers as early as possible. 

Here’s when we recommend mammograms and ultrasound screening to help women get the care they need.

Mammogram: The standard tool

Mammogram is the gold standard when it comes to screening for breast cancer. 

Using low-dose X-rays and a special machine, a mammogram can detect many signs associated with cancer, including areas of abnormal breast tissue.

You remove your top and bra for your mammogram and change into a medical gown that closes in the front. During the test, you stand in front of the mammogram machine, and the mammogram tech places your breast on a flat platform. An upper plate is placed on top of the breast, and together, the plates compress the breast tissue, making it easier to capture more detailed images to aid in your screening.

Once your breast is in position, the X-ray machine is rapidly activated — a process that literally takes seconds. The procedure is repeated on the other breast.

Afterward, the doctor reviews the mammogram images, looking for abnormal areas of tissue or other changes that may need further evaluation. When abnormal tissue is identified, that’s typically when an ultrasound is prescribed.

Ultrasound: Unique benefits

Ultrasound breast exams use high-frequency ultrasonic waves to capture images of your breast tissue — the same technology used during pregnancy to monitor fetal development. 

In most cases, ultrasound breast exams are used as a followup to a traditional mammogram.

During an ultrasound exam, the tech passes a special device called a transducer over your skin. The transducer emits ultrasound waves painlessly through your skin. These waves “bounce off” denser objects, creating echo images of your breast tissue.

In addition to providing additional information about abnormal tissue identified via a mammogram, ultrasound breast exams are often recommended for women with naturally dense breast tissue. That’s because ultrasound waves are able to pass through dense tissue more easily than X-rays, providing better imaging results and a more accurate screening.

Ultrasound screening is especially helpful for evaluating noncancerous breast issues, like cysts or fibrotic tissue changes. 

To make screening as simple and convenient as possible, we offer on-site ultrasound breast screening to help women get the followup care they need to stay healthy.

Bottom line: Two tools for optimal detection

Our team recommends these screenings based on an individual’s risk factors to ensure every woman receives the best care for her breast health. 

To schedule your next mammogram or to learn more about mammograms and ultrasound exams, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Feminine Urgicare in Paramus, New Jersey, today.