October is breast cancer prevention month, a disease that affects thousands of women every year. Breast cancer represents the most common malignancy among women, but early detection can make a difference in terms of treatment and prognosis. To promote awareness of this issue, Dr. Cristina Villa, sonographer at Life Clinic, will participate in the free information evening on Oct. 24, offering her expertise to clarify the importance of ultrasound screening.
Dr. Villa, what is the importance of breast ultrasound in prevention.
"Ultrasound imaging uses ultrasound to create images of breast tissue without the use of ionizing radiation, is particularly useful in younger women who have denser breast tissue that is difficult to assess with mammography alone, is always repeatable as needed, is painless, can serve as a guide for any needle biopsies, and is useful for diagnostic exploration of lymph nodes, axillary cavity, and soft tissue
In what cases is ultrasound indicated even after the age of 40?
"After that age, ultrasound is complementary to mammography. I always recommend it in the presence of nodules or cysts that are not clearly visible on X-ray, or when mammography shows abnormalities that need further investigation. Also, in some cases, tissue sensitivity or genetic factors require more detailed monitoring."
During the ultrasound, what exactly is the doctor looking for?
"We assess the presence of masses, lumps, cysts, or other changes in breast tissue. We focus on the size, shape and contours of the formations, features that help us distinguish between benign and suspicious structures."
Is ultrasound useful in the surveillance of patients operated on for breast neoplasia with inserted implants?
"It is essential for monitoring the status of the residual gland or the radicality of the excision to assess the absence of recurrence and for studying the prostheses, detecting any rupture or inflammation of the surrounding tissues. Ultrasound is a very precise and risk-free tool for this type of evaluation."
Dr. Villa regularly receives patients at Life Clinic, offering high-quality diagnostic ultrasound support for all patients who wish to undergo targeted and individualized checkups.
