BREAST ULTRASOUND FOR SURGEONS

Until recently, use of ultrasound in the breast was limited primarily to the differentiation of the solid versus cystic nature of nonpalpabl e, mammographically-detected masses. Advancements in ultrasound techno logy have allowed for delineation of specific ultrasonographic charact eristics of breast masses and, as such, placement of these masses into categories based on their relative risk of malignancy. Depending on t hat relative risk, ultrasound-guided needle aspiration and/or core bio psy of these masses may be performed. Both diagnostic ultrasound and u ltrasound-guided needle biopsy of the breast have been demonstrated to be quite accurate. These techniques may avoid many unnecessary open b iopsies for benign lesions and facilitate therapeutic planning for mal ignant lesions.