What is breast ultrasound?
The ultrasound of breast is the study of internal structure of breast by using high frequency sound waves.
Applications of breast ultrasound:
Technique:
With using modern ultrasound equipment high quality images of normal and abnormal breast tissues are produced.
Equipment used:
A 7.5 MHz linear array transducer/probe should be used.
Ultrasound breast anatomy
By using adequate sonographic equipment, we can easily get detailed images all macroscopic breast structure and breast tissues.
The ultrasonic breast anatomy contains following:
The breast can be divided into four regions:
Lymph nodes in breast:
A lymph node is defined as the small clumps or bunch of immune cells that acts as filters for your lymphatic system. The lymphatic system carries fluids and cells that runs throughout the body such as blood in circulatory system.
The lymph nodes start to reach in the axillary area (underarm) if the breast cancer is start to spread. These lymph nodes are called as axillary lymph nodes.
Nature of the lymph nodes:
The nature of the lymph nodes is highly related to the prognosis (chances of survival)
Negative lymph nodes: These are the lymph nodes that do not contain cancer.
Positive lymph nodes: These are the axillary lymph nodes that do contain cancer.
Single nodule: Lymph nodes can be enlarged, this condition is termed as lymphadenopathy, these enlarged lymph nodes can be seen as a nodule under the skin and in an ultrasound or another imaging tests.
Echogenic fatty hilum: Normal lymph nodes is ovoid in shape and hypoechoic to the adjacent muscles and frequently contain the echogenic fatty hilum.
Hilum: The hilum is a linear, echogenic, non-shadowing structure and it contains the nodal vessels which appears continuous with the fat around the node.
Fatty hilum: The fatty hilum is the important component of normal lymph node. The fatty hilum can easily combine into the normal fatty tissue of breast.
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