[Real time ultrasound in routine breast diagnosis]

Ultrasound examination of the breast is used in three indications: the premenstrual syndrome, the examination of cyst and the short-time control of high-risk patients. The differential main point is the diagnosis of cysts, which may save the patient from "blind" puncture. In this field, ultrasound is more competent than mammography; furthermore, the oedematous changes occurring before the onset of menstruation can be easily seen with sonography. For the early detection of cancer of the breast, ultrasound is merely additional but its diagnostic value is bound to rise with progressing development.