Automated Whole-Breast Ultrasound

What is an automated whole-breast ultrasound?

Automated whole-breast ultrasound is currently used as a screening tool. It uses soundwaves to produce images of the whole breast. The ultrasound can be paired with mammography to detect breast cancers that cannot be seen with a mammogram or felt during a physical examination alone.

The images produced during an automated whole-breast ultrasound work in conjunction with the mammogram to assist the radiologist with the identification of breast cancer.

Who can benefit from an automated whole-breast ultrasound?

Women with dense breasts

On a mammogram, dense tissue and masses both appear white, so a suspicious lump may be hidden in dense tissue for a woman with dense breasts. When dense tissue is scanned with ultrasound, tissue appears white and masses appear black – making masses easier to see.

Women at high-risk of breast cancer

Ultrasound produces no radiation, so younger women who normally wouldn’t be a candidate for a mammogram due to exposure of radiation can be screened with an ultrasound if they are at a higher risk for breast cancer due to family history, genetic mutations or other reasons.

Check with your doctor to learn about your breast density and to see if you are a candidate for screening automated whole-breast ultrasound.

Screening Automated whole-breast ultrasound at Beaumont

Beaumont offers some of the most advanced technology in whole-breast ultrasound today, including the Invenia ABUS 2.0 at Beaumont Hospitals in Dearborn, Grosse Pointe, Royal Oak and Troy. 

Screening automated whole-breast ultrasound are also offered at the Beaumont hospitals in Trenton and Wayne.