Your doctor has requested an ultrasound of your breast or breasts. Ultrasound is a safe and painless procedure that uses sound waves to "see" inside your body. The scan can help examine any lumps or unusual findings you or your doctor may have found. Ultrasound is most suited to identify fluid-filled spaces such as cysts (cysts are masses that are definitely not cancer, as distinguished from other masses that may or may not be cancer). Additionally, ultrasound is also very useful for examining both silicone and saline breast implants. At Cedars-Sinai S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center we have an expert team of physicians, nurses and technologists who are highly trained in ultrasound imaging.
It is important that the imaging physician have any previous mammograms available for comparison when reading your current study. Please bring any previous mammogram films with you on the day of your exam.
It is suggested that you do not schedule your breast ultrasound one week prior to your menstrual cycle, as your breasts are usually very sensitive at this time.
We want to make your waiting time as pleasant as possible. Consider bringing your favorite magazine, book or music player to help you pass the time.
Please leave your jewelry and valuables at home.
If you have not recently had any other test on your breasts performed at Cedars-Sinai, you will be asked to complete a "Breast Imaging Questionnaire."
A technologist will review the questionnaire and will add other information as necessary.
The technologist will also explain your procedure and answer any questions you may have.
You will be asked to lie on your back on the examination table with your hands at your sides.
A warm gel, very similar to hair styling gel, will be applied to your breast. The gel will help the sound waves to travel from the machine into your breast.
A transducer, a small microphone-like device, will be placed over your breast. This will be painless, however, you may feel mild pressure from the transducer.
Sound waves will bounce off the different tissues in your breast. These waves will create "echoes." The echoes are reflected back to the transducer, which converts them to electronic signals. A computer then processes the signals into pictures and shows them on a television monitor.
These moving images may be viewed immediately, or photographed for further study.
The images will be reviewed by an imaging physician, who may determine that additional images are necessary for a complete examination.
Your exam will take approximately 30 minutes.
Your study will be reviewed by a imaging physician and the results sent to your doctor. Your doctor will discuss these results with you and explain what they mean in relation to your health.
If you have problems related to your procedure, please call (310) 423-8000.
To request copies of your pictures on a PC and MAC compatible CD, or a copy of your report, call (310) 423-8000 and follow the prompts for your selection.
You can be dropped off in front of the South Tower on Gracie Allen Drive.
Parking is available in the South Tower parking lot, also off of Gracie Allen Drive. (If the lot is full, you will be directed to another parking lot.) To get into the parking lot, you need to be heading east on Gracie Allen. You cannot turn into the lot if you are westbound.
Parking is partially validated.
