The use of ultrasonography in the management of masses of the breast.

Contact B-mode ultrasonography of masses of the breast is a simple, safe and noninvasive technique which does not involve the use of ionizing radiation. It is highly accurate in differentiating cystic from solid mammary masses measuring 1 centimeter or larger. A biopsy of a sonographically solid mass should be done unless it has an unequivocally benign appearance on mammography. A biopsy of a purely cystic mass, if asymptomatic, need not be done for diagnostic purposes. Needle aspiration can be used as an alternate method for diagnosing a cyst, but failure of this method occurs more often than one is aware of. Sonography is the method of choice for such a diagnosis. Its accuracy in masses 1 centimeter or larger is 100 per cent. When propertly used and carefully correlated with clinical and mammographic findings, it can eliminate over one-third of all operations on the breast.