Real-time ultrasonic characteristics of the breast.

An ultrasonic study of the breast of a group of 250 patients attending a breast screening clinic has been performed. Four types of breast can be recognised by their ultrasonic characteristics and the study shows how appearances alter with increasing age. The ultrasonic appearances correlate with the X-ray mammographic patterns described by Wolfe and have increased our understanding of some of the radiographic features. The implications for the use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of lumps and the assessment of mammographic abnormalities, and its potential role as a screening tool, are also briefly discussed.