Breast Shear Wave Elastography
Two Sides:
£365 £328
One Side:
£295 £265
Breast Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) is a cutting-edge ultrasound technique that evaluates the stiffness of breast tissue. Unlike traditional ultrasound, which focuses on structure, SWE provides quantitative data on tissue elasticity, helping distinguish between benign and malignant lesions with greater confidence—particularly useful for women with dense breast tissue.
🔬 How It Works
Shear waves are generated within the breast tissue using focused ultrasound pulses. These waves travel through the tissue, and their speed—correlated with tissue stiffness—is measured and transformed into a color-coded elastogram. Malignant tissues typically appear stiffer and transmit waves faster than benign ones.
✅ Same-Day Appointments & Results
🚫 No GP Referral Needed
💳 Flexible Payment Options
💡 Key Benefits
- ✔ Improved Diagnostic Accuracy: Accurately distinguishes between benign and malignant lesions, reducing unnecessary biopsies.
- ✔ Quantitative Results: Unlike strain elastography, SWE provides measurable data for objective evaluation.
- ✔ Enhanced Detection in Dense Breasts: Particularly beneficial for women whose dense breast tissue limits the effectiveness of mammograms.
- ✔ Non-Invasive & Radiation-Free: Painless, safe, and ideal for repeat monitoring over time.
📋 Clinical Applications
- ✔ Characterising Breast Lesions: Supports decision-making regarding biopsy or further imaging.
- ✔ Treatment Monitoring: Tracks tumor response during chemotherapy or other therapies.
- ✔ Complementary to Mammography: Enhances clarity when mammograms or sonograms show inconclusive findings.
Price
One-Side Breast & Axilla Scan: £295 £265
Two-Side Breast & Axilla Scan: £365 £328
Includes:
- Verbal explanation of findings
- Detailed written report & images
- Optional onward referral to a specialist if needed
If you experience any issues with your online booking, please call our office at 020 3318 1373.
Please select a location and time to proceed with your booking.
Breast Shear Wave Elastography is a state-of-the-art ultrasound technology that measures the stiffness of breast tissues. It uses sound waves to create and detect shear waves within the breast, providing quantitative data on tissue stiffness, which helps differentiate between benign and malignant lesions.
While traditional breast ultrasound focuses on the visual appearance of lesions, SWE provides additional quantitative data on tissue stiffness. This information is crucial because malignant tumors tend to be stiffer than benign ones, making SWE an invaluable tool in breast cancer detection and diagnosis.
No, Breast SWE is a painless procedure. It is performed as part of a standard ultrasound examination, with no additional discomfort beyond what might be experienced during a regular ultrasound.
Breast SWE is particularly beneficial for individuals with palpable breast masses, ambiguous mammographic/traditional sonographic findings, or dense breast tissue. It is also useful for monitoring known lesions over time or evaluating the effectiveness of treatment in breast cancer patients.
The procedure typically takes only a few minutes longer than a conventional breast ultrasound. The entire process, including preparation, usually lasts less than 20 minutes.
While Breast SWE can significantly enhance the accuracy of breast lesion characterization, it does not replace the need for a biopsy in all cases. Biopsy remains the definitive method for diagnosing breast cancer. However, SWE can help reduce unnecessary biopsies by better distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions or inversely can draw the attention of the clinician to the breast lesion when the tissue is stiffer while the traditional ultrasound features look benign.
Breast SWE has shown high accuracy in differentiating between benign and malignant breast lesions, especially when combined with conventional ultrasound findings. However, its accuracy can vary based on the operator's experience and the specific characteristics of the lesion being examined.
Breast SWE is a safe and non-invasive procedure with no known risks. It does not involve radiation exposure, making it safe for repeated use and for all patient populations, including pregnant women.
Booking Requirements
To secure your appointment, please ensure the following:
- No GP referral is needed — self-referral is accepted
- Complete the online or telephone pre-scan questionnaire
- Flexible payment methods (Klarna) are available
- Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment
- Bring a form of photo ID and any relevant previous medical imaging/reports
Why Choose Us?
- Experienced Consultant Sonographers
- Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound Equipment
- Fast Appointments & Same-Day Reports
- Discreet, Friendly Environment
- Convenient Central London & Surrey Locations