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Stanford Health Care

Screening Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound

Our Approach to Screening Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound (SAWBU)

Screening Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound (SAWBU) is a noninvasive way of finding small cancers that cannot be seen on mammograms alone. Featuring new automated technology to make breast cancer screening more accurate, SAWBU uses sound waves to create 3D pictures of breast tissue. It is an optional test for women with dense breast tissue who would like to supplement their routine mammography screenings. Our radiologists are internationally renowned specialists in breast imaging for screening and diagnosis, and in performing image-guided breast procedures.
 

Download SAWBU - Information for Patients & Families

What We Offer You for Screening Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound (SAWBU)

  • Preventive screening and thorough evaluations for your health, wellness, and peace of mind.
  • A nationally recognized Center of Excellence for breast imaging, as designated by the American College of Radiology. Our radiologists are specially trained in mammography, ultrasound, MRI, and interventional procedures for breast cancer detection and diagnosis.
  • State-of-the-art breast imaging equipment, including technology that uses sound waves, not radiation, to create 3D pictures of breast tissue.
  • Multidisciplinary approach that brings together experts from radiology, oncology, and women’s health to provide comprehensive treatment options, should you need treatment, personalized to each patient’s needs.

What is Screening Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound?

About Screening Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound (SAWBU)

SAWBU is an imaging technique developed specifically for efficient and accurate ultrasound breast screening. This test involves an automated scan of the breasts and typically takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete. By using sound waves to create 3D pictures of the whole breast, SAWBU allows for additional visibility in areas where there is tissue that is dense on a mammogram.

SAWBU is an option if you:

  • Have no current signs or symptoms of breast cancer.
  • Have mammographically dense breasts, described as "heterogeneously" or "extremely" dense.
  • Are undergoing routine mammography screening and would like a supplement to the mammograms. SAWBU does not replace mammograms.
  • Are not at “high risk" for breast cancer and are already undergoing supplemental screening with breast MRI. SAWBU does not provide additional benefit after MRI.  
  • This exam is not performed at sites of mastectomy with or without reconstruction.
  • This exam can be performed with an MRI-safe implanted device that is not a pacemaker. This exam cannot be performed with an MRI-conditional implanted device or a pacemaker.

If abnormalities that need treatment are found with your SAWBU scans, your radiologists will work closely with your physician, women’s health specialist, or oncologist to develop a care plan personalized to your needs.

Our Clinics

Imaging Services at Advanced Medicine Center Building in Palo Alto

Our highly trained radiology specialists, nurses, and technicians use leading-edge Screening Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound (SAWBU) technology in our state-of-the-art clinic.

Imaging Services at Advanced Medicine Center Building in Palo Alto
875 Blake Wilbur Dr
 Palo Alto, CA 94304
Phone: 650-723-6855 Getting Here
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To schedule an appointment, please call: 650-723-6855