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Mammography and Breast Implants
A Picture Can Save a Life:
What you Need to Know About Breast Implants
Breast Cancer Facts
While we still don't know the cause of breast cancer, we do know that finding the
disease early with mammograms, monthly self-breast exams and clinical exams by a
doctor or nurse can save a woman's life.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer that a woman may have to face in her lifetime
(excluding skin cancer).
More than 200,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed and more than 40,000 women
will die from the disease this year.
Having a family history increases a woman's risk, but 80% of all women diagnosed with breast
cancer have no family history of the disease.
The Importance of Early Detection - Mammography
The earlier breast cancer is detected, the greater the likelihood of successful treatment.
A mammogram can detect breast cancer in its earliest stage, usually years before a woman can
feel the lump in her breast.
A mammogram (or mammography exam) is a safe, low-dose x-ray of the breast. Currently,
it is the most effective tool for detecting breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage.
Breast Implants and Mammography Interference
Breast implants have been shown to obscure mammographic imaging by hiding some breast
tissue, making it difficult for the radiologist to see breast cancer when looking at the mammogram.
According to a January 2004 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA),
breast implants have been shown to result in missed cancer. The study found:
- Screening mammography missed 55% of breast cancers in women with implants, compared with only 33% among women without implants;
- Breast implants make mammograms more difficult to read because the implants appear as a
"solid white mass" blocking the view of the breast tissue.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:
- Breast implants have a common complication called capsular contracture in which painful
scar tissue develops around the implant making the breast hard and very tender (to
excruciatingly painful) to the touch. When this develops, mammography may be extremely
painful or impossible due to the compression involved in the procedure.
- 62.1% of complications associated with breast implants and mammography were for breast
implant rupture during the procedure. Rupture during mammography was reported for both saline and
silicone gel-filled and saline-filled breast implants.
What Should You Do If Breast Implants Are An Issue?
Remember, mammography saves lives. Even if you have breast implants, continue to get
routine mammography for breast cancer screening as recommended by your doctor and perform
monthly self-breast exams. You should, however, consider the following:
- When scheduling a mammogram, be certain to tell the mammography facility that you have
breast implants. This is important because the radiologist or technician performing the
mammogram will have to take extra views of the breast.
- It is important to understand that when implant-specific mammography techniques
(known as "implant displacement views") are used, a portion of breast tissue will
remain obscured by the implants.
- The special mammogram procedures or additional images necessary during mammography will
subject women with breast implants to at least double the radiation dose per mammogram
compared to the normal procedure.
- The American Society of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery together with the Food and
Drug Administration recommend that women with breast implants be referred to healthcare
providers who specialize in conducting mammography on implant patients.
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