Ultrasound Mammography: Methods, Results, Diagnostic Strategies

For most areas of medical ultrasound, textbooks that provide physicians with detailed, practical information are readily available. Unfortunately, for the field of ultrasound mammography, such texts are few in number, in comparison to the num ber available for other fields of medical ultrasound. This textbook by Drs. Hack eHler, Duda, and Lauth fills this gap by presenting a clear overview of the usefulness and limitations of ultrasound mammography. Information based on clinical experiences with various types of automated and real-time instrumentation is presented in a manner that allows physicians to make their own judgments regarding the diagnostic capabilities of ultrasound mammogra phy. It also provides specific information on techniques required to obtain useful diagnostic data. Examples of the many possible image variations of specific breast pathologies are presented. The advantages of recent real-time systems, when used with a stand-off, are clearly outlined. The authors do not belabor the philosophical dilemma of which sys tem, an automated or a real-time, is best suited for ultrasound mammography. They simply present the information they have gained in their use of both of these systems and indicate that, in the future, a combination of automated and real-time would be the most valuable for the physician.