BS04
WHAT IS THE PLACE OF OFFICE ULTRASOUND IN A BREAST SURGEON'S PRACTICE

• Published in: ANZ journal of surgery 2009-05, Vol.79 (s1), p.A4-A4
• Main Author: Bennett, I. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1445-1433; 1445-2197
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.04913_4.x

In almost every area of surgery specialty, ultrasound is being increasingly utilized and incorporated into daily clinical practice by surgeons. This has been facilitated by advances in ultrasound technology which have seen the development of many high quality small portable ultrasound units, often in the format of a laptop, and which are extremely user friendly. Office ultrasound is particularly applicable and relevant for the breast surgeon who is able to use this technology to enhance his assessment of and streamline the management of breast patients. Breast ultrasound should be considered an extension of the physical examination and can often be used to provide immediate reassurance for symptomatic women. Office ultrasound enables the breast surgeon to undertake fine needle aspiration biopsies, core biopsies and even vacuum assisted biopsies. It also enables the better pre‐operative assessment of breast cancer patients and it may help in decision‐making regarding optimal surgical management. It can also be a useful tool in the management of breast abscesses through repeated aspirations. There is a distinct learning curve and surgeons who are starting out using this technology need to appreciate their own limitations. In the near future, ultrasound‐guided ablation or excision of breast lesions using modalities such as radio‐frequency cautery will become routine, and may be performed as office‐based procedures. It is important that breast surgeons incorporate ultrasound into their practice to remain relevant to the management of women with breast disease.