Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to make a computer picture of the inside of the breast. It can show certain breast changes like fluid-filled cysts and solid masses that are harder to identify on mammograms.
Ultrasound is used when there is an area on the mammogram that needs further evaluation. It is also used when a person has a breast symptom such as a lump or thickening or skin change.
Before Your Procedure
Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time. Please do not eat or drink after midnight the night before your abdominal vascular ultrasound.
Bring the following information with you:
- A signed prescription for an imaging study (unless your doctor’s office has either faxed an order or indicated they entered the order directly into Inova’s electronic medical records system)
- Insurance card
- Photo ID (e.g., license, passport)
- Any previous exam films and reports performed at a non-Inova facility, including X-rays, mammograms, MRIs, CT scans and ultrasounds
- Implant card, if applicable