You may have seen ads from other providers advertising ultrasound as a way to screen for breast cancer. While breast ultrasound is a useful tool for evaluating specific areas of concern in the breast, such as a lump or an abnormal finding on a mammogram, it is not a substitute for a mammogram.
Mammograms are the only screening test PROVEN to reduce deaths from breast cancer because they can detect tiny calcium deposits (microcalcifications) and other early signs of cancer that may not be visible on ultrasound. Ultrasound and mammography provide different types of information and are sometimes used together to give the most complete evaluation of breast health.
It is important to follow the guidelines from the American College of Radiology (ACR) which call for annual breast screening with mammography starting at age 40.