What are the preferred scan planes for breast imaging?

• A. Radial and anti-radial planes
• B. Sagittal and Transverse planes
• C. Coronal and Axial planes
• D. Longitudinal and cross-sectional planes

Answer: (A)

Breast ultrasound is most informative when you image along the breast’s ductal layout, which radiates from the nipple. Scanning in radial planes centers on the nipple and sweeps around it, so a lesion can be described in relation to the nipple and the surrounding ducts, giving a consistent map of its location. The anti-radial plane, perpendicular to the radial sweep, provides a complementary cross‑section that helps evaluate depth, margins, and internal features from another angle. Using these two planes together lets you document and compare the lesion’s position and extent around the nipple with clear orientation. Other planes don’t align with the natural ductal anatomy as well, making orientation and localization less intuitive.