Can ultrasound detect cancer?

Ultrasound usually refers to ultrasonography. In general, ultrasound examination can assist in detecting certain cancers, but it cannot serve as the sole basis for a definitive cancer diagnosis. The detailed analysis is as follows:

Ultrasound imaging uses sound wave reflections to generate images, clearly revealing the shape and structure of internal organs. When tumor-like lesions occur in an organ, ultrasound can preliminarily identify these abnormal signals, helping detect suspicious lesions associated with certain cancers such as liver, thyroid, or breast cancer. It can also assess the size, boundaries, and blood flow of the lesion, providing guidance for further evaluation. However, ultrasound images only show the morphological features of a lesion and cannot determine whether the cells are cancerous. Some benign lesions may appear similar to early-stage cancers on ultrasound, making accurate differentiation difficult. Therefore, ultrasound alone cannot be used as the sole criterion for cancer diagnosis.

When a suspicious lesion is detected via ultrasound, further pathological examination is required to confirm the nature of the lesion. Patients should avoid self-diagnosing or becoming overly anxious based solely on ultrasound results. During the examination, patients should cooperate with the doctor by adjusting their body position to ensure clear imaging. For screening different types of cancer, appropriate diagnostic methods should be selected—some cancers have low detection rates on ultrasound and require complementary tests such as CT scans or endoscopy. Regular cancer screenings are recommended, especially for individuals with a family history of cancer or other high-risk factors, to enable early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.