A breast ultrasound is a medical imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the breast tissue. During a breast ultrasound, a small, handheld device called a transducer is moved over the skin of the breast to capture images of the internal structures.

Breast ultrasounds are often used as a follow-up to a mammogram or other breast imaging tests, to help diagnose or evaluate breast abnormalities, or to assess breast lumps that are too small to be felt. They can also be used to guide a biopsy procedure, where a small sample of breast tissue is removed for further testing.

Breast ultrasounds are considered safe, non-invasive, and do not use any radiation. They are particularly useful for evaluating breast abnormalities in younger women, women with dense breast tissue, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

It is often used as a complementary imaging test to mammography, particularly in cases where there is a suspicion of breast cancer or to evaluate breast lumps that are too small to be detected on a mammogram.