Technologist preps automated breast ultrasound

Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS)

ABUS provides supplemental screening for women with dense breasts. It is offered at the NMMC Breast Care Center in Tupelo.

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Breast density classifications show how dense breast tissue changes mammography images

Innovative Technology Improving Breast Cancer Detection

The NMMC Breast Care Center offers automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) to supplement screening mammography for women with dense breasts, improving their overall breast cancer detection rate.

Mammogram + ABUS for Dense Breasts

Women diagnosed with dense breasts still need annual screening mammograms as recommended for all women over age 40 by the American College of Radiology. Supplemental screening with automated breast ultrasound works in tandem with mammography to improve breast cancer detection rates in women with dense breasts. Although the mammogram of a dense breast tissue may not show lumps as clearly as those with less dense breast tissue, mammography remains our best screening technique in all women. Additionally, there are some conditions that are only well seen with mammography including breast microcalcifications, which can be a very early sign of breast cancer. ABUS is not a substitute for screening mammograms.

Breast Tissue Types

Breast tissue consists of two types: fatty and fibroglandular. If more than 50% of your breast is made of fibroglandular tissue, then your breasts are classified as dense. Key facts about breast density:

Dense breast tissue can’t be identified by touch or visual exam.
Density is diagnosed with mammography.
Dense breast tissue is not abnormal.
More than 40% of U.S. women have dense breasts.

Density Changes

Women often shift from dense to intermediate to low density during their lifetime, but changes occur at different times for each woman. Density can change with:

Pregnancy

Lactation

Menstrual cycle

Weight loss/gain

Hormone use

Surgery

Radiation treatment

Age

Why It Matters

Dense breast tissue can make a mammogram harder to read. On an X-ray mammogram, fatty breast tissue appears gray, while both dense breast tissue and cancers show up as white. That means a cancer can easily hide in a background of dense breast tissue since they both appear white.

Dense breast tissue can’t be identified by touch.
Density is diagnosed with mammography.
Women with dense breast tissue have a 4-6 times higher risk of breast cancer.

What is ABUS?

Ultrasound is widely used by medical professionals as a non-invasive imaging technology. It uses sound waves to examine structures inside the body.

ABUS provides a complete ultrasound evaluation of the entire breast. Combined with your screening mammogram, it improves the overall sensitivity by 26.7% and increases the overall breast cancer detection rate for women with dense breasts.

What to Expect