Elastography for Early Breast Cancer Detection

Published on: September 8, 2015

Breast cancer is a real threat to the health and lives of women, with hundreds of thousands of women diagnosed each year in the U.S. It is one of the leading cancers to cause deaths in women, making it vital to fight this disease. The best way to treat and survive breast cancer is through early detection. New radiology technology such as elastography can help detect breast cancer lesions earlier, increasing the chance of successful treatment and survival.

What is Elastography?

Elastography is used in conjunction with hand-held ultrasound equipment to detect cancer lesions in the breasts. It can also be used to detect tumors in the thyroid. The technology creates an image that offers higher levels of dimension that make it easier to recognize malignant tumors. It does this by creating imaging that shows the difference in elasticity in the tissue. Tumors have a different elasticity than other tissue, which is easier to see using elastography. It can even differentiate between malignant and benign tumors, helping diagnose breast cancer quicker in patients.

Not all radiology clinics have access to elastography equipment to perform this advanced scanning. This equipment is a large investment, which not all clinics have been able to undertake. However, for anyone that is having a breast ultrasound for possible cancer lesions, there is no price that can be put on having the technology to catch cancer at the earliest stage possible.

Anyone undergoing scanning for breast cancer should insist on using a radiology clinic that has the equipment necessary to perform elastography. It may be the technology that is needed to detect breast cancer when it is still in its early stage to increase the chance of effective treatment.

Posted on behalf of:
Diagnostic Radiology Ultrasound & Breast Center, P.C.
Mount Vernon Medical Center
755 Mount Vernon Highway Northeast #310
Atlanta, GA 30328
(404) 252-3430

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