Why should breast surgeons use ultrasound?

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Portable ultrasound use is expanding beyond radiology, yet breast surgeons' performance remains suboptimal.
• This review examines the benefits and necessity of breast surgeon-performed ultrasound in clinical practice.

Discussion:

• Intra-operative ultrasound by surgeons decreases re-excision rates in breast-conserving surgery.
• Outpatient ultrasound by surgeons optimizes radiology department resources for complex cases.

Key Insights:

• Competent performance requires formal ultrasound training, mentorship, and supervised practice with breast radiologists.
• Breast surgeon-performed ultrasound significantly enhances multidisciplinary breast cancer care.

Outlook:

• Increased collaboration between breast surgeons and radiologists is crucial for optimizing imaging applications.
• Consideration of hybrid specializations for breast interventional procedures is recommended for future practice.