Office-based breast ultrasonography in a small community surgical practice

Ultrasonography is now a universally accepted ancillary modality in the diagnosis and management of breast diseases. The debate is whether general surgeons can become adept in the use of this technology in their daily practice. This is a report of 100 breast ultrasound procedures performed by the author in the confines of the surgical office. This report confirms the already known observation that ultrasonography complements good breast examination and mammography. This experience also proves that ultrasound-guided breast biopsy is safe, highly accurate, and cost-effective. Furthermore, this experience shows that ultrasound-guided interventional breast procedures can be performed safely by any well-trained general surgeon. This is extremely helpful in the smaller communities, where the general surgeon is still rightfully regarded as the expert in the management of breast diseases.