Can the Mammography test discover the breast cancer if the woman had a breast enlargement surgery (silicon)?

Question

Can the Mammography test discover the breast cancer if the woman had a breast enlargement surgery (silicon)?

Answer 1

It is harder to do but yes. But they still may have to do a biopsy.

Answer 2

Mammography is not as accurate in women who have any type of breast implant.  Silicone vs. saline is not an issue here, as look nearly the same on mammograms, meaning they both obscure breast tissue equally.  If the implant is behind the chest wall, we can see more breast tissue on a mammogram, than we can if the implant is in front of the chest wall.

When we do a mammogram, we compress the breast in two ways.  For the CC view, the breast is compressed from top to bottom.  In this position, any breast tissue above or below the implant will not be seen.  For the MLO view, we compress from side to side, and in this position, any breast tissue on either side of the implant will not be seen.  On a woman without implants, we take those two views of each breast, for a total of 4 images.  When a woman has implants, we take those images, plus 4 more.  In these extra views, we pull the breast tissue forward, and away from the implant, and try to just image that tissue.  So, the radiation dose is doubled.

But, it is still recommended that women with implants get routine screening mammograms, as it is the best screening method we have at this point in time.  MRI is very accurate, but also very expensive, time consuming, and not done at all imaging facilities.  Ultrasound is good, when used in conjunction with a mammogram.  The only sign or symptom of some breast cancers are microcalcifications, and these cannot be seen on ultrasound, but can be seen on mammograms.