In the treatment of diseases of the mammary gland, the timely detection of pathological changes in its condition is of great importance. For this, ultrasonic diagnostics is widely used. Ultrasound makes it possible to conduct an examination also for preventive purposes. This allows you to establish the nature of the neoplasm, when it is still in its initial stage and you can still do without a major operation. It is important to note that such an examination is recommended to be carried out regularly. In this regard, women are interested in ultrasound of the mammary glands on what day of the menstrual cycle do they do? How often can I sign up for this study? Is preparation required for this examination? These are common questions. Let's look into them in more detail.
So, if you have to do a breast ultrasound, the day of the cycle will be important.
Ultrasound diagnostic method and its possibilities
This technique is based onthe ability of human tissues to absorb ultrasonic radiation, which occurs in different ways and depends on their density and consistency. Ultrasonic waves are directed to the studied areas at different angles. This makes it possible to obtain a video image of cavities that are filled with liquid or air, as well as to display seals of any size.
On which day of the cycle to do an ultrasound of the mammary glands, you should find out in advance.
Tumor detection
Ultrasound diagnostics is one of the main methods for finding benign as well as malignant tumors, along with abnormal tissue growth, polyps and cysts in the mammary glands. Among other things, using this technique, you can find out what condition the lymph nodes are in.
Breast ultrasound is used to control the conduct of a biopsy, which is the collection of tissue samples from suspicious areas. In addition, it is used for laparoscopic breast surgery. Using this method, it is possible to follow the process of the patient's recovery after drug therapy or after a surgical operation.
Benefits of breast ultrasound
The main methods for diagnosing pathologies are breast ultrasound along with mammography. These methods can often complement each other. For example, mammography allows you to determine the nature of the formation, and with the help of ultrasound diagnostics, it is possible to find out whether nearby tissues are affected. In addition, using the latter method, it is easy to detect metastases. So, ultrasound has the following advantages:
- This examination is absolutely harmless, as it does not use radioactive radiation. This advantage allows it to be prescribed to women who are under thirty years of age. Sensitivity to radiation at this age is extremely increased, so mammography is not used unless absolutely necessary.
- Ultrasound can be performed during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- The presented study can be repeated without any harm to he alth as many times as necessary in order to monitor the growth of the neoplasm or the condition of the breast after therapy.
- Using this technique, you can examine the lymph nodes, and in addition, detect metastases in them.
- The method is excellent for examining patients with any breast size. For example, with the help of mammography, it is sometimes impossible to see small neoplasms in glands that are large. For small breasts, only ultrasound diagnostics is suitable, since mammography in this case is impossible.
- Ultrasound examination allows you to examine the gland in the presence of an inflammatory process in it, as well as after an injury, since this particular diagnosis does not require direct interaction with the organ (which cannot be said about mammography).
Breast ultrasound and cycle day are closely related.
It should be noted that this survey is availablealmost every patient, since relatively simple equipment is used as part of the examination, and the cost of the examination is low.
When should research be done?
The indication for breast ultrasound is a violation of the shape and size of the female breast along with the asymmetric location of the nipples and the appearance of discharge that is not associated with lactation. Discharge of any nature, for example, clear, purulent or bloody, is always a pathology.
In the event that the nipple is retracted, and the skin of the breast itself is flaky, and if you raise your hands, cavities form on it, this indicates the presence of a malignant process. The study will provide an opportunity to determine the location and features of the development of a dangerous neoplasm. In order to clarify the nature of the tumor that has appeared, a biopsy is made under the control of ultrasound diagnostics. When to do an ultrasound of the mammary glands is not an idle question.
This method is used to detect seals of any size and nature. Any woman can notice their appearance by self-diagnosis. Without this study, it is impossible to do with chest injuries. The reason for a visit to a mammologist and a study of the state of the gland is the presence of pain in one of them, and sometimes in both at once. It often happens that pain, along with burning and a feeling of heaviness and swelling in the chest, can intensify during menstruation. This also indicates the diseases of this organ. Therefore, depending on the cycle, an ultrasound of the mammary glands is done. On which day of this cycle it is better to spend it, we will find out further.
For prevention
For preventive purposes, this study is recommended to be done once a year for absolutely all women in the reproductive period. The main reason for the appearance of a neoplasm and the growth of a breast tumor is the excessive content of estrogens in the female body. In a young woman, a hormonal surge is directly related to endocrine diseases, and in addition, to the use of contraceptives. The regularity of preventive examinations is especially necessary when it comes to family predisposition to breast cancer.
After fifty years, aging of the body, along with a decrease in immunity, contributes to the occurrence of infectious or inflammatory pathologies of the genital organs, which also leads to hormonal failure. Sometimes patients use hormonal drugs to eliminate the symptoms of menopause. All this significantly increases the likelihood of cancer in the mammary glands. In this regard, women who are over fifty years of age are recommended to conduct such a study 2 times a year.
Breast ultrasound to do on which day of the cycle, consider below.
What exactly could the study show?
Examination of the mammary glands with ultrasound involves the use of high-frequency sound waves in order to obtain an image. Under no circumstances should this method be confused withradiography, which is ionizing radiation. Ultrasound is completely harmless and can be used as often as needed.
Another characteristic difference between ultrasound diagnostics and X-rays is the ability to obtain an image in real time, and not just in the form of a conventional image. Ultrasound of the breast allows you to evaluate the structure of tissues and detect cysts and tumors. Under the control of ultrasound diagnostics, the doctor can take a puncture from a suspicious formation for a more detailed study.
This research option is used even to clarify the diagnosis, which was obtained using mammography. Some pathological processes on the mammogram may not be visible or difficult to interpret, therefore, in case of doubt, specialists prescribe an additional MRI or ultrasound.
Ultrasound, as already noted, is a public technology. Not only does it have practically no contraindications and its cost is not high, there are also devices for its implementation in almost every clinic. In addition, this technique gives a clear picture of the actual state of breast tissue.
What are the indications for breast ultrasound?
Indications for the implementation of the considered diagnostic method are the following factors in the statefemale body:
- The appearance of soreness of the breast along with hardening of the nipples and various discharges from them.
- Visual change in the shape, size, contours, and condition of the breast skin.
- Planning a woman's pregnancy, her onset or lactation. During these periods, the condition of the mammary gland should be monitored with special attention.
- The need to diagnose cysts, tumors and any other neoplasm found during another study.
- Need for breast assessment due to injury or inflammation.
- Observation of enlarged lymph nodes mainly in the axillary and subclavian regions.
- Evaluation of the silicone prosthesis after breast augmentation surgery.
- Monitoring the effectiveness of therapy for dyshormonal diseases of the mammary glands.
Any woman should definitely know that at the age of thirty years and older, it is highly recommended to have a mammogram along with an ultrasound. And for patients under the age of thirty, as a rule, only one breast ultrasound is enough.
When is breast ultrasound done? On which day of the menstrual cycle is it more informative?
Which day of the cycle is best for breast ultrasound?
The state of the mammary gland is in direct connection with the phase of the menstrual cycle. For the most accurate test results,Ultrasound diagnosis of the mammary glands is done immediately after the end of menstruation, before the immediate onset of ovulation, that is, approximately on the fifth to twelfth day after the start of the cycle. During this period, there are no edema in the chest, and the network of ducts is displayed most clearly. In the second half of the cycle, the breasts may become more swollen and dense, which is due to the fact that nature prepares the body for a possible pregnancy.
Doing an ultrasound of the mammary glands on what day after the onset of menstruation, not all women know.
It is important to note that if the patient has an irregular cycle and her periods are delayed every two months or more, then the study can be performed absolutely any day. Against the background of pregnancy and lactation, this diagnosis is carried out mainly if there is a suspicion of the development of oncology. The structure of the mammary gland during these periods changes so much that small nodes are simply impossible to detect. In this regard, it is not possible to detect cancer at the beginning of its development through ultrasound.
After the age of fifty, when menstruation in patients completely stops, ultrasound diagnostics of the breast can be performed at any time, since during this period their condition is quite stable.
Making a breast ultrasound is quite simple.
How is the procedure carried out?
As part of the examination, the woman is laid on her back with her hands raised to her head. In this case, the skin of the chest should be completely cleansed ofany cosmetics, otherwise the result will not be accurate. The glands are treated with a special gel, this is done so that the equipment sensor can slide over the skin.
When diagnosing, first examine a he althy breast, and then study the pathological changes in the diseased area. As part of a preventive ultrasound examination, the glands are examined, as well as the areas in which the lymph nodes are located. This procedure usually takes about fifteen minutes. When deciphering the information received, the ratio of glandular, adipose and fibrous tissue is determined along with the expansion of the ducts, the structure of the lobules and the skin.
On which day of the cycle ultrasound of the mammary glands is more informative, you can also check with the doctor.
Which is better for diagnosing breast pathologies: mammography or ultrasound?
Why do an ultrasound when you can get a mammogram and vice versa? These techniques are equally widely used and the patients themselves do not see the difference. But it exists. Mammography is an x-ray method, and ultrasound is an ultrasound. Of course, ultrasound diagnostics is safer, however, and the radiation dose during mammography is negligible and comparable to the standard radiation that people receive naturally every day. A more significant difference is that the mammogram assesses the condition of the tissues of the glands, and the ultrasound machine also examines the adjacent lymph nodes.
Ultrasound of the mammary glands is done on whatday of the menstrual cycle, now we know.
