Breast and axillary ultrasound, one or both sides
Breast ultrasound in Casablanca
A breast ultrasound uses sound waves, without X-rays, to examine the breasts and armpits. It often complements a mammogram, especially when the breasts are dense, and it is frequently the first exam for women who are young, pregnant or breastfeeding. In particular, it can tell a cyst, filled with fluid, from a solid nodule, and examine the lymph nodes in the armpit. Without radiation, it can be repeated as often as follow-up requires.
Duration, report and equipment
Duration
Allow 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the number of breasts examined.
Report turnaround
Report within 24 hours. In an emergency, during opening hours, the report is handed over immediately.
Equipment
GE & Hitachi
Contact the center
This exam is booked by phone or WhatsApp.
When is this exam needed?
- Lump or thickening felt on palpation.
- Mammogram finding that needs clarification, or dense breasts.
- Localized pain, nipple discharge, monitoring of a cyst or a breast implant.
- Redness, warmth or swelling of a breast, especially during breastfeeding.
- Lymph node felt in the armpit.
- Check-up of a known nodule, at the intervals set by your doctor.
How the exam is done
You lie on your back, undressed to the waist, with the arm on the side being examined raised behind your head. After a gel is applied, the probe glides over the whole breast and then over the armpit, where the lymph nodes are located. The exam is not painful, but slight pressure may be uncomfortable on a tender area.
Before starting, show the doctor the exact spot that worries you: the doctor examines it carefully and compares what is seen with your previous exams. You may be asked to turn slightly onto your side to fully expose the outer part of the breast. At the end, the gel is wiped off, you get dressed and return to your activities right away.
Preparation
- If a mammogram follows, avoid deodorant, talc and cream on your breasts and armpits.
- Choose a separate top and bottom, which are easier to take off than a dress.
- If you are breastfeeding, a feed or pumping milk just before the exam makes the breast less tense.
Fasting
No fasting is required. You eat and take your treatments as usual.
Contrast injection
Nothing is injected: only the gel and the probe are used.
Contraindications and precautions
- No contraindication, even during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Simply mention it at the start of the exam.
- Breast implants, recent surgery or a recent biopsy of the breast: tell us before the exam.
- Personal or family history of breast cancer, hormone treatment: tell us, as this helps to interpret the images.
Documents to bring
- Prescription from your doctor or gynecologist
- Previous mammograms, ultrasounds and breast MRIs, with their reports
- Report of breast surgery or a breast biopsy, if applicable
- Insurance or mutual insurance fund card
Price and insurance coverage
The center accepts coverage from insurance companies and the main mutual insurance funds. You submit the coverage request to your insurer or fund yourself. For AtlantaSanad and Sanlam, the center takes care of it.
No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Does it replace a mammogram?
No, the two exams complement each other. A mammogram shows microcalcifications better; an ultrasound is better at analyzing a mass in a dense breast.
When in my cycle should I have it?
At any time. Before menopause, the first half of the cycle is often more comfortable, because the breasts are less tense.
What if an abnormality is found?
Most findings are benign, such as cysts. If needed, monitoring, an MRI or an ultrasound-guided sample will be offered to you.
Should I mention a recent vaccination?
Yes. A vaccine given recently in the arm can make the lymph nodes in the armpit on the same side swell, which is important to know when interpreting them.
Why does an ultrasound often follow a mammogram?
The two exams are read together: the ultrasound clarifies a finding seen on the mammogram or examines a dense breast. Combining them at the same appointment is called a breast imaging assessment.
Can men have a breast ultrasound?
Yes. In men, it mainly examines an enlarged breast, called gynecomastia, or a lump felt under the nipple.