Breast cancer is becoming prevalent in women, especially with dense breast tissues. Research has shown that 40% of women with dense breast tissue must undergo an annual diagnosis examination to detect the onset of cancer at an early stage. However, simple mammography is not enough to go through dense breast tissues.
Here’s how automated breast ultrasound screening comes into play. If you have undergone a recent mammogram, automated breast ultrasound might be your next examination. Simply put, using Automated Breast ultrasound will help your physician to get answers sooner regarding the presence or absence of cancer cells in the breast. Keep reading to learn more about this advanced and automated screening procedure!
What is automated breast ultrasound?
Automated breast ultrasound, also known as ABUS, is a non-invasive screening method that produces distinct and three-dimensional images of the breast. Unlike the common mammography procedure, this automated technology is unaffected by breast tissue density. The screening protocol’s non-ionizing, real-time, and economic value makes it a proven and preferred adjunct to mammography for cancer detection.
Also, as a secondary diagnostic examination, it can be seen through the depth of dense tissues. Experts have demonstrated that automated breast ultrasound for women with dense breast tissue can progressively aid in the early detection of breast cancer. Nonetheless, a mammogram is still essential in the screening procedure and will not be replaced by automated breast ultrasound screenings.
How is automated breast ultrasound different?
Unlike two-dimensional and three-dimensional mammography involving radiation, automated breast ultrasound uses sound waves to produce three-dimensional images of your breast tissues. In addition, the screening procedure is approved by the FDA for breast cancer detection and thoroughly evaluates your dense breast tissues.
The screening modality is an effective procedure with diagnostic accuracy incorporated into the handheld ultrasound. Radiologists who are familiar with the display mode, imaging features, and artifacts will peer through the dense breast tissue that is not visible on the mammogram.
What is the significance of automated breast ultrasound?
Breast tissues are composed of fatty and fibroglandular tissues. If your breast has more than 50% of fibroglandular tissue, it will be classified as dense. It also shows that the higher percentages pose a potential risk of developing breast cancer compared to women with minimal or optimal fibroglandular tissues.
Automated breast ultrasound screening is not a necessary diagnostic procedure for every woman. This will be recommended by your physician to you if you,
- Have most areas with dense breast tissues
- Have undergone a mammogram procedure within a year
- Are currently not having any symptoms of breast cancer.
How to prepare for automated breast ultrasound screening?
The patients who have received their mammography results within a year must bring them along during the examination. It will help your healthcare professional to compare the results between a mammogram and automated ultrasound to obtain a clear idea about the health of your breast. You will be instructed to arrive at least 20 minutes before the appointment. You can also schedule the appointment for a mammogram if it’s your first time for screening and it has not been completed before.
What is the procedure for automated breast ultrasound screening?
The entire procedure will take around 15-20 minutes, from preparation to the acquisition of results. Each scan will take only 40 seconds, and a technologist will be there with you throughout the process. Before beginning the procedure, the technician will include your information in the Automated Breast ultrasound screening equipment and examine the scan depth and sequence type. Now, the steps include,
- You will lie straight on your back with your chest facing upwards, towards the ceiling, allowing the tissues in the breast to spread out in an even way.
- To ensure proper positioning, the technician will place a well-angled sponge under the back and hips.
- Then a hypo-allergic and non-toxic ultrasound lotion is applied to the breast region. It will allow you to experience painless compression during the procedure.
- The reverse curves transducer is positioned on the breast, and the scanning process will begin. It will take a minute to get multiple views and scan state-of-the-art images to obtain. The transducer automatically created uniform compression across the area to produce quality images independent of the respective operator.
- During the process, you might feel a little bit of pressure in the area where the transducer is placed but with no pain. Now, the procedure will be repeated for the next breast.
What to expect after automated breast ultrasound screening?
Upon completing the screening process, the technician can view the 3D pictures of the breast tissues within minutes. They will examine the different layers of the tissues to confirm whether adequate details from the entire breast portion were obtained. Images will be transferred to radiology for further evaluation. The automated technique will optimize the workflow of breast ultrasound screening by reducing the need for invasion tests.
After a few days, you will receive a call about the results, and the report from radiology will be sent to your preferred healthcare professional. It will help your physician to have a better visualization of your breast tissues, clearly identifying the cancer cells or smaller lesions if any developed. Eventually, they can enable a fast and accurate review of your test,
What are the benefits of an automated breast ultrasound?
The automated breast ultrasound screening system is designed with innovative features to improve the sensitivity, consistency and reproducibility of the whole process. automated algorithms in the procedure provide remarkable image quality. Here we have listed out the top benefits of automated breast ultrasound.
- In combination with mammography, automated breast ultrasound tends to improve the detection of breast cancer in women by 35% more than the singular application of mammograms.
- The potential of automated breast ultrasound procedures ensures lower false-positive results and improves confidence in the diagnosis.
- Unlike handheld ultrasound procedures that will take 45 minutes of scheduled timing, an automated breast ultrasound screening exam can be completed along with the acquisition of results within 20 minutes.
- automated breast ultrasound is an optimal option among younger women with dense breast tissues and for those who haven’t benefited from mammography to relieve their breast pain.
- The process is radiation-free and painless and collects 3000 to 5000 images that can be seen in a motion-picture format.
- The system scans both breast tissues and the internal structures present on the adjacent side.
Final words
In a nutshell, early and accurate detection of breast cancer by using automated breast ultrasound screening can save many lives. It is a fast and efficient imaging technology when compared with the traditional breast ultrasound process. Automated breast ultrasound is often recommended as a supplement for mammography for those with dense breast tissues.Even though it’s a quick and painless procedure, consult with your healthcare professional regarding any specific risks and additional screening tests that might be appropriate for your health status.
At CDN care, we have experienced technicians and automated technology to meet all your specific needs and ensure your comfort, by creating the best experience. As the key technology in ultrasound, our automated breast ultrasound service is affordable and available for everyone and continues to expand its capability in efficiently detecting cancers and other lesions.