Is it possible to see 6 dense areas on a mammogram, but none on the next mammogram 3 days later?

Question

I am 46, and had my annual mammogram on Friday. The result showed 6 small dense areas on both breast. The mammogram was repeated on Tuesday and the dense areas were all gone. I was told that I have nothing to worry and just continue the yearly mammogram.

Answer 1

Not sure, but they could have been blocked lymph node nodules that became unblocked and drained on their own.

Answer 2

Did they repeat the original mammographic images or do special views?  When we see something which appears to be a mass, we usually do compression views of the breast.  These are done in the same CC (from top to bottom) and MLO (from side to side) positions, but the compression paddle is smaller.  When we apply more pressure via this smaller paddle, normal breast tissue will "spread out" and the masses (which in were never actual masses, but normal breast tissue which appeared to be a mass) will no longer be visible.  A breast cancer or even a benign breast tumor will keep its same shape, no matter how much compression is applied.

If you had the original mammographic images repeated, with the same positions and the same mammo machine set up, more compression with the regular paddle could also have the same result.

At age 46, your b*****s are still relatively dense.  Dense tissue appears white on the x-ray film....and so do all signs of breast cancer (both masses/lumps or calcifications). You cannot see white pathology through white, dense tissue. It is like trying to see a white volleyball in a the snow in a photograph. Sometimes, mammography compression views or a breast ultrasound are needed in these cases, just to ensure nothing is "hiding" behind that white tissue.  

If the radiologist had even the slightest amount of doubt in his/her mind, a breast ultrasound would be requested.  You could ask for an ultrasound, or a six month follow up mammogram of the breast in question.  Your referring doctor might be willing to order those studies for you.  It would be very rare for a person to have six different breast cancers in the b*****s.  In over 15 years in the field, I have never seen that scenario, and I have seen a lot!

Answer 3

Well, the compression that is applied can vary from mammogram to mammogram. It sounds as if they may have obtained better compression on the second set.

I have small b*****s and it's very difficult for them to get proper compression when I get mammograms. Bad images show up as very white and dense ... the often have had to repeat the imaging to get better/clearer films.

Answer 4

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