A mammogram is the most well-known tool for catching breast cancer early. Starting at age 40, all women should plan to get a screening mammogram every single year, even if they don’t have concerning symptoms.
But if your doctor is also recommending a breast ultrasound, you might wonder why it’s necessary and how it differs from mammography.
“A mammogram uses X-rays to capture images of the breast tissue by compressing the breasts from various angles — top to bottom and side to side,” explains Dr. Kelli Ha, a breast radiologist at Houston Methodist. “It gives us the big picture, like a map of the breast tissue.”
Each year, your breast radiologist re-assesses your breast tissue map, looking for changes that may signal breast cancer.
“The vast majority of breast cancers are found this way, which is why mammogram is the gold standard,” adds Dr. Ha. “But ultrasound can also play an important role in breast cancer screening and breast cancer detection.”
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