Visualization of breast lesions with an advanced ultrasonic device: results of a pilot study.

A pilot study is described in which a new design of a sensitive ultrasonic device was used to visualize breast lesions in nine patients. The results were in general accord with clinical, histologic, and x-ray examinations, although ultrasound was superior to x-ray mammography in the visualization of discrete cysts in breasts having a "dense" background. As the device provides an indication of the capabilities of ultrasonic equipment which will be generally available within the next two years, projections are made on the impact of this equipment on the earlier diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, together with a discussion of the negligible radiation bio-hazards posed by devices of this type, in the light of present knowledge.