Breast Ultrasound (Sonomammography) in Dadar West, Mumbai
Reported by our breast imaging specialist
A breast ultrasound (sonomammography) shows whether a breast lump is a fluid-filled cyst or solid tissue, with no radiation. At AV Scan in Dadar West / Prabhadevi, our breast imaging specialist, a woman doctor, does it and reports it, Monday to Saturday. It usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Most reports the same day, sent to your WhatsApp.
At a glance
- Done and reported by
- Our breast imaging specialist, a woman doctor, MBBS, MD (Radiology), FIFM, FMF (UK)
- Scan time
- Usually about 15 to 30 minutes
- What it feels like
- Not painful; firm pressure over a tender spot
- Scan days
- Monday to Saturday; evenings by prior appointment; book on WhatsApp
- Radiation and injection
- No radiation and no injection: it uses sound waves
- Preparation
- Usually none: no fasting and no full bladder
- Report
- A BI-RADS category; most reports the same day, sent to your WhatsApp
- Cost
- We tell you the exact figure on WhatsApp before you book.
- Machines
- GE Voluson E10 and Philips Affiniti 70G
What a breast ultrasound shows
A breast ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make live pictures of the breast and the armpit, with no radiation and no compression. Patients also call it breast sonography, USG breast or sonomammography (स्तन की सोनोग्राफी / स्तनाची सोनोग्राफी).
- Whether a lump is a simple fluid-filled cyst or solid
- Signs of a common harmless lump, such as a fibroadenoma, or signs that mean a biopsy is advisable
- Its size and exact position (clock-face position and distance from the nipple), so it can be checked again later
- Lymph nodes in the armpit (axilla)
- The milk ducts behind the nipple, when there is nipple discharge
- Infection or a collection of pus (an abscess), often while breastfeeding
- Blood flow inside a lump, using colour Doppler
Ultrasound does not reliably show tiny specks of calcium, which can be an early sign of some breast cancers; a mammogram shows them. That is why a breast ultrasound does not replace a mammogram.
Sonomammography or mammogram: which do you need?
The choice depends on your age, your symptoms and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Your doctor and the radiologist decide; the usual pattern is [2] [3]:
| Your situation | The usual test |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | Ultrasound is usually the test to start with for a lump, and often all that is needed |
| 30 to 39 | Ultrasound alone, or a mammogram with ultrasound: the radiologist advises which |
| 40 and over, with a lump | Usually both a mammogram and a targeted ultrasound |
| Pregnant or breastfeeding, at any age | Ultrasound to start with (see the questions below) |
| Routine screening with no symptoms (commonly at 40 and over) | The mammogram is the screening test; ultrasound is an add-on, not a substitute (at AV Scan every mammogram is paired with one) |
| Dense breasts on a mammogram | The paired ultrasound can find some cancers hidden in dense tissue, and also shows more harmless spots |
When doctors ask for a breast ultrasound
Most breast lumps turn out to be harmless, but every new lump should be checked. Common reasons:
- A new lump or thickening in the breast or armpit
- Pain in one particular spot that does not settle (general pain that comes and goes with periods usually does not need a scan)
- Nipple discharge from one duct that happens on its own, especially if it is clear or blood-stained
- Redness, swelling and pain while breastfeeding, to look for an abscess
- Skin dimpling, or a nipple that has recently turned inwards
- A finding on a mammogram that needs a closer look
- Follow-up of a lump previously reported as probably benign (BI-RADS 3)
Please note
A hot, red, painful breast with fever or chills needs to be seen by your doctor the same day. If you feel very unwell, go to a hospital emergency department instead of waiting for a scan; the scan can follow. Redness or swelling that does not settle after a course of antibiotics, or that appears when you are not breastfeeding, should be checked again promptly.
How to prepare for a breast ultrasound
- No fasting and no full bladder are needed.
- Wear a two-piece outfit, such as a kurta or top with trousers or a salwar, so you only undress from the waist up.
- Bring previous mammograms, ultrasound reports, CDs and any biopsy reports: comparison with older scans often answers the question.
- Tell us about any previous breast surgery, biopsy or breast implants.
- If you are also having a mammogram, do not put deodorant, talc or powder on the breasts or armpits.
- If you are breastfeeding, feed or express shortly before the scan; it is more comfortable and the pictures are clearer.
- For a routine check, the week after a period is often more comfortable, but do not delay a scan for a new lump.
- Tell us if you are, or might be, pregnant: this matters before any mammogram or X-ray.
Before you come
Our team confirms the exact preparation when you book on WhatsApp.
How a breast ultrasound is done at AV Scan
You lie on your back with one arm raised behind your head, sometimes turned slightly onto your side. Our breast imaging specialist asks exactly where you feel the lump or pain and looks closely at that area. Then she checks the rest of the breast and the armpit as needed. She is a woman doctor and does every breast ultrasound here herself, Monday to Saturday. Evening appointments are by prior booking.
Gel is put on the skin and a small handheld probe is moved over it. It is not painful, though you may feel firm pressure over a tender area. You can go back to work, drive and breastfeed straight afterwards.
Your report and what BI-RADS means
BI-RADS is the standard reporting system of the American College of Radiology [1], so your surgeon or gynaecologist reads the result in the same terms wherever the scan was done. Your report says where each finding is, its size and features, and gives a BI-RADS category with the next step:
- 0: incomplete
- More imaging, or your older scans, are needed.
- 1: negative
- Nothing abnormal is seen.
- 2: benign
- A harmless finding, such as a simple cyst.
- 3: probably benign
- Follow-up scans instead of a biopsy (see the questions below).
- 4: suspicious
- A biopsy is advised, though many turn out harmless.
- 5: highly suggestive of cancer
- A biopsy is advised.
- 6: cancer already confirmed on biopsy
- Used for scans after a cancer is diagnosed.
A category is not a diagnosis: only a biopsy can confirm whether a lump is cancer. A normal scan is reassuring, but no test is perfect. If a lump stays or changes, go back to your doctor: a lump that feels suspicious may still need a biopsy.
Most reports the same day, sent to your WhatsApp. If there is an urgent finding, the radiologist contacts your doctor directly.
If a biopsy is needed
If a lump looks suspicious (BI-RADS 4 or 5), the next step is a small tissue sample. It can be taken at AV Scan, with the live ultrasound picture guiding the needle, and it can often be taken on the same day.
The skin is numbed and a hollow needle takes a few thin samples of tissue. For an armpit lymph node, a fine needle sample (FNAC) is sometimes taken instead. You go home the same day with a small dressing. Some bruising and soreness for a few days is common. Contact your doctor if bleeding does not stop with firm pressure, if the swelling increases or if you develop a fever. The pathology result takes longer than a scan report, and our team tells you when to expect it.
Tell us beforehand if you take blood-thinning medicine or have a bleeding disorder. Do not stop a blood thinner on your own; your doctor will advise. More about ultrasound-guided biopsy and FNAC.
Questions about cost?
We do not publish prices online. Our front-desk team, a friendly group of women, answers every question about your visit, including the cost, on WhatsApp (opens WhatsApp), by phone or at reception. We tell you the exact figure on WhatsApp before you book.
If you claim reimbursement, we give you every bill and report your claim needs. See how our quotes work.
Frequently asked questions
Is sonomammography the same as a mammogram?
No. Sonomammography is an ultrasound: sound waves, no radiation and no compression. A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray taken with the breast pressed firmly. They show different things, so women aged 40 and over with a breast symptom usually need both.
Is breast ultrasound safe in pregnancy and while breastfeeding?
Can I have 3D mammography and breast ultrasound on the same day?
Yes. Every mammogram at AV Scan is paired with a breast ultrasound, so both are done in one visit and our breast imaging specialist reports both. If a sample is needed, it can often be taken the same day. More on 3D mammography at AV Scan.
My report says BI-RADS 3. Should I worry?
It means probably benign: the chance of cancer is very low. Instead of a biopsy, follow-up scans are advised, usually at about 6 months and then at intervals for up to 2 years. If the lump grows or changes before then, see your doctor earlier.
Is a woman doctor available for a breast ultrasound?
Yes. Every breast ultrasound at AV Scan is done by our breast imaging specialist, a woman doctor, Monday to Saturday; evening appointments are by prior booking. The doctor who scans you also writes your report.
How much does a breast ultrasound cost?
Our front-desk team answers every question about cost on WhatsApp (opens WhatsApp) or by phone and tells you the exact figure before your visit.
Sources
- BI-RADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System). American College of Radiology, 2025.
- ACR Appropriateness Criteria Palpable Breast Masses: 2022 Update. Expert Panel on Breast Imaging, J Am Coll Radiol 20(5S):S146-S163, 2023.
- Best Practice Guidelines for Breast Imaging, Breast Imaging Society, India: Part-1. Chakrabarthi S et al., Ann Natl Acad Med Sci (India) 58:60-68, 2022.
- ACR Appropriateness Criteria Breast Imaging During Pregnancy. J Am Coll Radiol 22(11S):S492-S507, 2025.
Related tests
Page updated
Book or ask a question
Visit us
AV Scan Diagnostics
Ground Floor, Shilpa Apartment, Shankar Ghanekar Marg, near Shivaji Park, Dadar West / Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400028
Dadar West / Prabhadevi, Mumbai, near Siddhivinayak Temple and Shivaji Park
Ground floor, step-free entrance
Landline 022-3522 0711
Opening hours
| Mon–Sat | 8:00 am – 10:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm |
Ready to book your visit?