Which of the following is true about dynamic techniques used in breast ultrasound?

• A. Compression, echo palpitation, and fremitus are all used
• B. Only compression is used
• C. Fremitus is not used in breast imaging
• D. Echo palpitation replaces compression

Answer: (A)

Dynamic techniques in breast ultrasound combine how the tissue responds to touch and vibration with how it looks on static images. Compression is routinely used because it sharpens the image, helps separate tissue planes, and shows how a lesion deforms under pressure—benign cysts often collapse or change shape more readily, while solid masses tend to be less compressible and reveal clearer borders. Echo palpation means applying gentle, controlled pressure with the transducer to feel how the lesion and surrounding tissue deform or glide relative to each other; this tactile feedback adds information about softness, mobility, and boundary integrity, which can aid in distinguishing benign from suspicious features. Fremitus involves introducing a small amount of vibration and observing how the tissue transmits that vibration; differences in transmission through a lesion versus the surrounding parenchyma can reveal tissue properties and detect subtle abnormalities not evident on static imaging. Because each maneuver provides distinct and complementary information, using compression, echo palpation, and fremitus together gives a more complete characterization of breast lesions than any single technique alone.