Course Description
In addition to digital mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis, and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diagnostic ultrasound (US)/sonography is a valuable supplementary tool in breast imaging. Breast sonography is often used as an additional breast cancer detection modality in women who have dense breast tissue and a negative mammogram. Sonography is currently the primary imaging modality recommended for guiding breast biopsies and other types of interventional breast procedures for its ability to monitor real-time needle-to-lesion guidance as well as for closer examination of suspicious lesions found on screening mammography.

However, conventional handheld US (HHUS) has several limitations such as operator dependence, small field-of-view, lack of reproducibility and standardization, as well as requiring a considerable amount of time from the radiologist for scanning oversight. To remedy some of these limitations, the incorporation and use of automated breast ultrasound scanners (ABUS) may be employed. ABUS is a dedicated method that scans the breast in an automated, standardized manner, with a transducer that is larger than that used in conventional breast sonography. It is a 3-dimensional imaging tool that can be used for supplemental screening primarily in women with dense breasts. In order to provide patients with high-quality and thorough breast screenings and in-depth examinations, radiologic technologists and sonographers should be familiar with the unique display mode, imaging features, patient positioning, and artifacts associated with using ABUS, which differ from those used in HHUS. This course will provide a review of breast anatomy, general information about sonography and the physics of sonography, as well as an update on the types of equipment used in breast sonography, the concepts, technical aspects, pitfalls, and the use of ABUS in clinical practice compared with traditional targeted HHUS.

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

• IDENTIFY the anatomy of the female breast.
• EXPLAIN the steps involved in patient intake procedures and preparation for an automated breast sonography study.
• OUTLINE the American College of Radiology (ACR) clinical guidelines for performing an automated breast sonography study.
• SUMMARIZE the basic concepts of ultrasound physics and in breast sonography and breast ultrasound tomography.
• EXPLAIN the history, basic principles of, instrumentation, scanning techniques, imaging planes, patient positioning, concepts, and image interpretation used in automated breast sonography and handheld scanning devices.
• IDENTIFY the limitations and technical differences between automated breast sonography scanners versus traditional handheld sonography scanners and their roles in breast imaging.
• LIST the various artifacts that may be encountered when performing automated breast sonography studies.
• INTERPRET the appearance of benign and malignant breast masses and their sonographic signs.
• EXPLAIN how computer assisted detection technologies integrated with an automated breast sonography scanner may assist in diagnosing breast disease.

Categories: Ultrasound/Sonography, Technology

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 15 out of 20 questions correctly to receive 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 2.0 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.

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	0.75
Breast Sonography	Procedures	0.5
Mammography	Procedures	0.5
Radiation Therapy	Patient Care	0.25
Radiation Therapy	Procedures	0.25
Radiologist Assistant	Procedures	1
Sonography	Image Production	0.25
Sonography	Procedures	0.75

Category	Subcategory	Credits
Breast Sonography	Anatomy and Physiology	0.25
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	0.25
Breast Sonography	Patient Interactions and Management	0.75
Mammography	Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology	0.25
Mammography	Mammographic Positioning, Special Needs and Imaging Procedures	0.25
Radiation Therapy	Patient and Medical Record Management	0.25
Radiation Therapy	Treatment Sites and Tumors	0.25
Radiologist Assistant	Thoracic Section	1
Sonography	Basic Principles of Ultrasound	0.25
Sonography	Superficial Structures and Other Sonographic Procedures	0.75