Ultrasound technique Rapid results

The biopsies can cost $200 to $1.000, according to if a certain fluid or a whole piece is removed, and it can take days or weeks to obtain the results.

The cost of elastography is not yet clear, but some experts said that the process could run $100 to $200. And it can give results in minutes.

Once checked against biopsies of fabric of the centre of the women, the technique of ultrasounds correctly identified 17 out of 17 cancerous tumours, and 105 out of 106 inoffensive lesions.

The results were reported at a national meeting of Chicago radiology this week.