The Role of Ultrasound in Breast Cancer Screening: The Case for and Against Ultrasound

Abstract

Mammography is the gold standard for breast cancer screening. However, with increasing awareness among patients and health care providers of mammography limitations especially in dense breasts, supplemental screening for breast cancer with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging has been expanding. The roles of both in screening need to be re-examined. This article reviews the efficacy, utility, and feasibility of ultrasound as a screening tool for the early detection of occult breast cancer.