Breast Ultrasound Scans

A breast ultrasound is a safe and painless imaging procedure, which could help you find the answers you’re looking for when it comes to breast health.

If you’ve spotted an anomaly, or have been recommended a breast ultrasound by your doctor, booking a private scan is a simple and straightforward process. A quick and efficient scan could help bring you the peace of mind you want, as soon as possible.

Looking to book? Search for a breast ultrasound near you.

What is a breast ultrasound scan?

A breast ultrasound scan is a medical imaging technique, used to generate pictures of the inside of the breasts and nearby lymph nodes. It can be used to find and assess breast problems, and can also see how well blood is flowing to your breasts. This is done using a special type of ultrasound called a Doppler scan.

Ultrasound scans use a scanning probe, also called a transducer, which emits high frequency sound waves that echo off the tissues of the breasts. The transducer then receives these echoes, and uses the changes in sound and direction to create real-time pictures of the inside of the breasts.

In a Doppler ultrasound, an additional device called a Doppler probe is added to the transducer, which allows your sonographer to hear how fast blood is flowing, and in which direction. The volume and pitch of the sound could indicate reduced blood flow or blockage.

What does a breast Ultrasound show?

A breast ultrasound can help to identify the root causes of breast abnormalities. Examples of abnormalities include:

lumps
changes in the appearance of the breasts/nipples, such as dimpling or inversion
clear or bloody discharge from the nipples
tenderness or pain in the breast area

These abnormalities might have been seen on a mammogram, or can be felt but were not visible on a mammogram (a type of breast x-ray).

This can often be the case for people with dense breast tissue, meaning the breasts are composed of less fat, and more glands, ducts, connective tissue and fibrous breast tissue. Half of all women over 40 have dense breasts, so this is not uncommon, but it can mean reduced visibility of tumours in a mammogram, making an ultrasound a more suitable imaging option.

What can a breast ultrasound detect or diagnose?

Diagnoses as a result of breast ultrasounds can include:

fibrocystic breast disease - hormonal changes cause lumps and tenderness in the breast tissue
fibroadenoma - non-cancerous tumour
intraductal papilloma - non-cancerous tumour in the milk duct
breast fat necrosis - ultrasound can show a lump of dead or damaged breast tissue
breast cyst - ultrasound can identify a cyst or whether it could be a tumour
ruptured (broken or damaged) breast implants
Possible breast cancer that may need further investigation
A swollen or enlarged lymph node in the breast or armpit area
Dilated breast ducts - on ultrasound, a duct can be investigate to see if it is wider or thicker than normal, which can cause blockages and fluid build-up. This could lead to nipple discharge.

What does breast cancer look like on ultrasound?

A breast ultrasound provides information about the composition of a lump in the breast. Ultrasound images can show whether a lump is solid and lighter in colour (likely a tumour), or fluid-filled and darker in colour (likely a cyst). They also help determine where a lump is situated, and how big or small it is. fat necrosis vs breast cancer on ultrasound

Cysts and tumours usually appear as dark areas on your scanning images, but most breast lumps are not cancerous.

How accurate is ultrasound in detecting breast cancer

Ultrasounds sometimes miss the very early stages of cancer, but resarch has suggested ultrasound is able to detect around 80% of breast cancers.

As an ultrasound alone can't determine whether a solid mass is malignant (cancerous) or benign (non cancerous), it is unlikely an ultrasound alone would be used to diagnose cancer. Instead, breast ultrasound can help clinicians assess whether further imaging, such as MRI, or a sample of tissue (biopsy), is necessary to further investigate a suspicious breast lump on ultrasound.

Can breast cancer be missed on ultrasound?

Breast ultrasound has many uses, but it’s not common to use breast ultrasound as a screening method. This is because, while it can spot a lump and help identify whether it is fluid-filled or solid, it might miss some signs of breast cancer not associated with a lump.

A breast ultrasound can miss cancer, as pictures of breast cancer lumps on ultrasound might be visible, but ultrasound cannot always show micro calcifications that could also be a sign of breast cancer. These are more visible on a mammogram.

Breast ultrasound vs mammogram

If you are under 25, have dense breast tissue, or are pregnant, a breast ultrasound may be more suitable for you than an ultrasound. this is because:

Mammograms use x-ray radiation, and, while the does is small, it may not be recommended for pregnant people due to the associated risks of ionising radiation.
Dense breast tissue is more common in younger women, and it is not as easy to image with a mammogram, so an ultrasound may be used instead.
If your doctor thinks you have an issue with a lymph node, or have a cyst, an ultrasound is recommended for initial investigations of these conditions rather than a mammogram.

Breast ultrasounds are also commonly used when a lump has been found, in order to identify its composition. Mammograms can be used to spot early signs of breast cancer, before any symptoms such as a lump become visible.

As with any test, sometimes there are false negatives, where breast cancer is not detected by mammogram or ultrasound even if it is present. In the case of mammograms, women with dense breasts may be more likely to receive a false negative result, which is why an ultrasound may be recommended for younger women or those with denser breast tissue.

Is a breast ultrasound safe?

Ultrasound scans do not use radiation, are non-invasive (use no needles), and have no known side effects. They are also safe for pregnant women, so may be preferable to mammograms, which use radiation.

You may feel some discomfort due to the cool gel applied to the skin before the scan. Also, if you are suffering from pain or tenderness in your breasts and are being assessed by ultrasound, you might find the pressure of the scanning wand on your skin uncomfortable. However, the scan usually does not last long, and you can resume your usual daily activities as normal afterwards.

How to prepare for a breast ultrasound:

You will receive preparation notes and instructions from our clinicians ahead of your appointment at a scanning centre. Breast ultrasounds require minimal preparation, and you can take any medicines as normal.

It is recommended that you wear soft, comfortable clothing and no jewellery. This is because you will be asked to remove your clothes from the waist upwards (including your bra), and put on a hospital gown for the procedure.

Breast ultrasound: what to expect on the day

When you arrive at the scanning centre, you will be asked about your medical history. The technician carrying out your scan will also explain what they are going to do, and will request your consent.
Once you’ve changed into your hospital gown, you will be asked to lie on your back or side. You might need to raise your arms during parts of the scan, or change position to allow different images to be captured.
A cool gel will be applied to your skin. This helps the scanning wand (transducer) to glide across your skin more easily, and helps prevent air bubbles from disrupting the sound waves emitted from the scanner.
During the scan, the transducer probe, which looks similar to a microphone, will be moved across your skin. The probe links to a computer, which records and interprets the echoes of the sound waves and generates images on a screen. You might feel some pressure, but you should tell your sonographer if you feel any pain.
After the scan, the gel will be wiped from your skin, and you can get dressed and resume your day as normal.

How long does a breast ultrasound take?

A breast ultrasound usually takes 10-15 minutes, but can last up to 30 minutes.

How long do breast ultrasound results take?

We aim to provide our patients with their results within 5 working days. This includes copies of your images and your scanning report.

How much does a private breast ultrasound cost (UK)?

A breast ultrasound private procedure starts from £245, with over 40 ultrasound scanning centres to choose from. With Scan.com, the breast ultrasound price you pay also includes:

A pre-scan consultation call with an expert clinician, to discuss your symptoms and make sure you’re getting the right scan.
A breast bilateral ultrasound scan at a location and time of your choosing.
Your results delivered online, in a shareable format.
An interactive report with clickable diagrams and definitions to help you understand your results with confidence.
A follow-up consultation call with your clinician, where you can ask any questions and chat through your next steps.

How can I find a breast ultrasound scan near me?

Book a private breast ultrasound today by searching on our website for sites near you.
Get scanned without a GP referral - our expert clinical team will take care of all the paperwork on your behalf.
Visit our news page to learn more about ultrasound scans and medical imaging