Future of Breast Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Abstract

With the advances in imaging technology, resolution and identificationof images have improved. Breast ultrasoundas a screening tool for breast cancer is a very popular topic. A few years ago, the Health Promotion Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare attempted to integrate related specialties countrywide, including obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, radiology, and breast surgery, to formulate common criteria for developing an ultrasound-based breast cancer screening guideline suitable for women in Taiwan. Since 2003, the Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology has been offering breast ultrasound examination technique training to medical specialists. Headed by Professor Fon-Jou Hsieh, the instructors’ training classes were established, and the first training was complete for the charter group of approximately 20 obstetricianegynecologists in breast ultrasound examination. With the strong support of two breast surgeons, Professors King-Jen Chang and Ming-Feng Hou, and locations chosen by the Taiwan Society of Ultrasound in Medicine for practical ultrasound field training, we were able to become familiar with performing breast ultrasound examinations within a very short time. The author was the class leader of the training class, and was responsible for the smooth implementation of the program and arrangement of subsequent ultrasound field trainings. In 2008e2009, the Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecologycompleted the two-level “basic”and“advanced”