An ultrasonic imaging apparatus combined with an x-ray imaging apparatus and/or
an additional ultrasonic imaging apparatus performs ultrasonic sonography and/or
x-ray imaging or multiple ultrasonic sonography to produce imagery that are spatially
correlated. A holding means holds an object to be imaged in compression in an examination
area. The x-ray source and the ultrasonic source are each relocatable from an inactive
imaging position to an inactive non-imaging position. The x-ray image and ultrasonic
sonography image are both taken in transmission and the resulting images contain
a registry object to assist a user in spatially correlating the images. The speckle
contained in the sonography image is reduced allowing for higher resolution of
abnormalities in the tissue and improved concurrent biopsy procedures.