Course Description
Sonography is a valuable diagnostic modality in breast imaging and is both complimentary and an adjunct to digital mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis, and breast magnetic resonance imaging. Sonography may also be used as an additional breast cancer detection modality in women with dense breasts and a negative mammogram. Currently, sonography is the primary imaging modality recommended for guiding breast biopsies and other interventional breast procedures due to its ability to monitor and assist with real-time needle-to-lesion processes. Overall, sonography has evolved from the early days of B-mode 2-dimensional grayscale images to pulsed duplex, color, power, and spectral Doppler imaging, harmonic and spatial compound imaging, and elastography. It has become an integral component in the effective evaluation of patients with suspicious lesions identified during screening mammograms. Recent developments in sonography imaging systems and transducer technology facilitate accurate differentiation between breast cysts and both benign and malignant solid masses. Proficiency in scanning techniques and instrumentation is crucial for ensuring optimal image quality and facilitating accurate diagnoses. Expertise in this field requires a comprehensive understanding of breast anatomy along with related lymphatic systems and their interactions, imaging techniques and protocols, and proper patient positioning. This course will provide a review state-of-the-art sonographic technology, including recent advances as well as information on whole-breast and targeted sonography relating to benign and malignant inflammatory breast diseases. It will also review breast, nipple, and lymph node anatomy, the American College of Radiology's Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) for breast density and abnormality reporting, and provide extensive examples of how many benign and malignant lesions appear on screen.

Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the participant should be able to:

• OUTLINE the anatomy of the female breast, lymph nodes, nipple, and axilla.
• EXPLAIN the steps involved in patient intake procedures and in preparing patients for a breast sonogram.
• DEFINE the different types of breast compositions and density as per The American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) classification system.
• SUMMARIZE the concepts and principles of physics involved in sonography imaging.
• EXPLAIN the basic principles, instrumentation, scanning techniques, concepts, and image interpretation in breast sonography.
• INTERPRET the sonographic appearance of the female breast, as well as benign and malignant diseases.
• DEFINE the different types of inflammatory breast diseases (IBDs).
• OUTLINE the role of sonography in the overall evaluation of benign and malignant IBDs.
• DISTINGUISH the roles that color Doppler plays in diagnosing patients with IBDs.

 

Category: Ultrasound/Sonography

In order to receive CE credit, you must first complete the activity content. When completed, go to the "Take CE Test!" link to access the post-test.

Submit the completed answers to determine if you have passed the post-test assessment. You must answer 24 out of 32 questions correctly to receive the CE credit. You will have no more than 3 attempts to successfully complete the post-test.

Participants successfully completing the activity content and passing the post-test will receive 3.75 ARRT Category A credits.

Approved by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists for ARRT Category A credit.

Approved by the state of Florida for ARRT Category A credit (for Technical credits). 

Texas direct credit.

This activity may be available in multiple formats or from different sponsors. ARRT does not allow CE activities such as Internet courses, home study programs, or directed readings to be repeated for CE credit in the same biennium.

Category	Content Area	Credits
Breast Sonography	Image Production	0.75
Breast Sonography	Patient Care	1.25
Breast Sonography	Procedures	1.5
Magnetic Resonance	Procedures	0.25
Mammography	Patient Care	0.75
Mammography	Procedures	0.75
Nuclear Medicine	Procedures	0.25
PTH	Procedures	0.25
Radiation Therapy	Patient Care	0.5
Radiation Therapy	Procedures	0.25
Radiologist Assistant	Procedures	0.75
Radiologist Assistant	Safety	0.25
Sonography	Image Production	0.75
Sonography	Procedures	1.75
Vascular Sonography	Image Production	0.5

Category	Subcategory	Credits
Breast Sonography	Anatomy and Physiology	0.75
Breast Sonography	Basic Principles of Ultrasound	0.25
Breast Sonography	Evaluation and Selection of Representative Images	0.25
Breast Sonography	Image Formation	0.25
Breast Sonography	Pathology	0.75
Breast Sonography	Patient Interactions and Management	1.25
Magnetic Resonance	Body	0.25
Mammography	Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology	0.75
Mammography	Patient Interactions and Management	0.75
Nuclear Medicine	Endocrine and Oncology Procedures	0.25
PTH	Treatment Sites	0.25
Radiation Therapy	Patient and Medical Record Management	0.5
Radiation Therapy	Treatment Sites and Tumors	0.25
Radiologist Assistant	Patient Safety, Radiation Protection and Equipment Operation	0.25
Radiologist Assistant	Thoracic Section	0.75
Sonography	Basic Principles of Ultrasound	0.5
Sonography	Evaluation and Selection of Representative Images	0.25
Sonography	Superficial Structures and Other Sonographic Procedures	1.75
Vascular Sonography	Basic Principles of Ultrasound	0.25
Vascular Sonography	Evaluation and Selection of Representative Images	0.25

Category	Credits
Digital	0
Fluoroscopy	0
Mammography	0