What is the difference between breast ultrasound and mammography?

Breast color ultrasound and molybdenum target are both common methods for examining gynecological diseases in women. When breast problems occur, doctors sometimes recommend breast ultrasound and sometimes recommend mammography. The two examination methods are applicable to different populations. In addition, there are differences in disease classification and the harmfulness of the examination. Therefore, when conducting these examinations, you must follow the doctor's advice.

1. Applicable people

Color Doppler ultrasound examination: Generally, the breast glands of young women under 35 years old are multi-glandular. Color Doppler ultrasound cuts in from the cross-sectional ultrasound, which can examine each quadrant and each part layer by layer, making it easier to find various lesions in each part of the breast.

Mammography: Mammography has certain requirements because it involves exposure to radiation and the breasts need to be clamped during the examination. Therefore, underage women, menstruating women, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, women of childbearing age, etc. are not suitable for mammography.

Most Chinese women have relatively small breasts with dense glands, which is different from the breasts of European and American women. Based on this fundamental situation, color ultrasound examination of the breast is more suitable for Chinese women.

2. Disease classification

Color Doppler ultrasound examination: Color Doppler ultrasound has undisputed advantages in diagnosing various benign breast diseases, such as breast hyperplasia, cystic breast hyperplasia, mastitis, mammary duct fistula, granulomatous mastitis, male breast development, mammary duct ectasia, etc.

Mammography: It produces overlapping images of flattened breasts, which are of little significance in diagnosing micro-multicystic breast hyperplasia, multiple small breast nodules, and intraductal papilloma.

The most common breast disease is hyperplasia. Many women of childbearing age think that breast pain and lumps are nothing more than hyperplasia. Everyone else has it, and so do I. There is nothing to be afraid of. Another disease with an increasing incidence is breast cancer. Many women become overly nervous once they find breast pain or lumps, thinking they have breast cancer and become panic-stricken. Both of the above attitudes are unscientific. Obviously, it is very important to choose an examination method that can accurately diagnose various breast diseases.

3. Repeatability

Color Doppler ultrasound examination: It can be repeated at any time, at any period, at any place, and at any age, with basically no risk.

Mammography: Because it involves exposure to radiation, there are many requirements and restrictions. Here is a special reminder that mammography examination should generally not be performed more than twice a year.

4. Economical and practical

Color Doppler ultrasound examination: The price of most color doppler ultrasound examinations in the country is more than 100 yuan, which is affordable for ordinary people. Molybdenum target examination: The price is mostly between 200 and 300 yuan.

Does that mean that molybdenum target is not as good as color Doppler ultrasound? Not necessarily.

1. Molybdenum target has unique advantages in the early diagnosis of malignant tumors. The diagnostic sensitivity for breast cancer is 82%~89%, and the specificity is 87%~94%.

2. For patients with large breasts and fatty breasts, the diagnostic reliability can be as high as 95%.

3. For early breast cancer with calcification as the only manifestation, mammography examination is suitable.

4. Localization of suspicious tumors.

5. Molybdenum target examination can be used to dynamically observe the effects of various physiological factors on breast structure.

6. Suitable for follow-up observation of some breast cancer patients after radiotherapy and chemotherapy.