The clinical utility of super high frequency ultrasound probes in breast examinations – benefits and limitations

The diagnosis and monitoring of breast pathologies have been significantly improved by the availability of very high frequency probes in breast ultrasound. The use of probes with frequencies above 20 MHz makes it possible to obtain images with exceptional resolution resulting in more accurate diagnoses. The latest probes also have sufficient penetration to be clinically useful in dense breasts and this not only allows detection of smaller lesions, but also enables sampling and tracking of these lesions with ease. The use of this super high frequency technology, combined with other advanced applications, will likely lead to earlier detection and thus improved management of breast cancer.

The improved visualization of small subtle tumors, tiny intraductal lesions, complex cysts and inflammatory skin lesions are among the envisaged abnormalities which would benefit from this technology, allowing better characterization.