You are here:
- Home
- Health/Fitness
- Women's Health
- Breast Cancer
- Echoes in a sonogram
Breast Cancer/Echoes in a sonogram
Advertisement
Question
I recently had a sonogram because of a questionalble mammogram. I am having 2 cysts aspirated, but the doctor said that the cysts had echoes and that may need to be investigated. What are echoes and what might this mean? Thanks!
A sonogram works like a radar. It sends out a signal and receives echoes in this case from the tissues of your breast and builds up a picture based on that. But it does use an ultrasound (very highly pitched sound waves - to high to hear) signal not a radio one as in radar. Tissues in your breast reflect those sound waves like mirrors (giving the echoes) and those reflections (echoes) form the picture. Echoes WITHIN your cysts may show that there is something there. And that - as your dr. said - should be investigated! At least in order to be sure that there is nothing dangerous there.
- Add to this Answer
- Ask a Question
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thank you so much! I had the cyst aspirated today and it turned out that the liquid was filmy, but not a problem! Thank you so much for the information. It helped me understand the process. | ||
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.
Expertise
I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience in diagnostics and treatment of breast tumours.
Experience
I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps.You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.
I also answer questions about
Oncology (General Cancer),
General History,
Military History,
Brain Tumors,
Colon Cancer
Education/Credentials
I'm a medical doctor and specialist in medical oncology and radiation therapy.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.