Mammography is by and large the most common form of imaging used to evaluate breast tissue. And yet there are times when a radiologist and doctor will determine that an ultrasound, or even an MRI, may be a more efficient approach. This determination is made based on what the doctor needs to see. When we're discussing imaging, we point out that color means everything. Potential abnormalities will show up differently in an ultrasound than they would in a mammogram or MRI. Some abnormalities may not show up at all in one type of imaging, but will in others.
Typically, mammography is performed as the baseline breast screening. A doctor may follow up with a request for an ultrasound if the mammogram shows an abnormality. A doctor may also turn to ultrasound imaging if their physical breast exam finds a lump that presents as a fluid-filled cyst. In this instance, the ultrasound may differentiate the mass between fluid or solid. That said, ultrasound is not considered an alternative for mammogram screenings. This is because ultrasound may miss the tiny calcifications that may serve as an early warning sign of breast cancer.