[Place of mammary ultrasonography in breast diseases]

Ultrasonography is the only morphological exploratory breast examination which is truly valid and inexpensive and may usefully complement clinical examination and mammography which remain the basic and absolutely necessary investigative tools in this pathology. Constant improvement of the spatial resolution of the "barrettes" permits us to characterize anomalies of 3 millimeters. These linear probes are easily manageable, permitting a better ultrasound guiding of breast punctures. The main indications for ultrasonography remain, in addition to the evaluation of any "nodule", the evaluation of disseminated or localized densities, where mammography is less beneficial. If exploratory ultrasonography proves very useful in malignant pathology, it has certainly been most useful in benign diseases, permitting us to determine a precise etiology and a better adjustment of the treatment.