Automated Breast Ultrasound

As the name implies, Automated Breast Ultrasound, is an automatic ultrasound system that can scan the breast.  GE calls their system ABUS.  Siemens calls their system ABVS (automated breast volume scanning)

Rather than employing a hand-held transducer, these systems employ a large high-frequency linear array transducer that is mounted on an articulated arm.  The transducer is located behind a soft membrane and is automatically moved through the region of interest.

The sonographer places the scanhead's membrane over the breast and secures it in place.  The system can then automatically move the transducer through the region of interest as it acquires a series of 2D longitudinal slices.  The scanhead is then rotated and repositioned, allowing a series of 2D transverse slices to be obtained.

The net result is the acquisition of a volume data set from which the coronal plane can also be reconstructed if necessary.  All this is done automatically.  

The advantage of the ABUS/ABVS systems is that they significantly reduce operator dependency and operator variability, making the test much more reproducible.  They also standardize the acquisition of the 3D data set which also makes the 3D volume more reproducible and reliable.

As a result, some centers are starting to use ABUS/ABVS as a screening test for women with dense breast tissue in whom mammographic screening is not effective.

Here is a short video from GE on ABUS.