An imperfect science to begin with, mammography gets even trickier when coupled with augmentation. And as women age, and their chances of developing breast cancer inch upward, the likelihood of less-than-clear mammography results is something else to be aware of before signing on for surgery. In short, implants make it harder for a radiologist to see breast tissue clearly. To compensate, she'll take twice the number of pictures, says Carl D'Orsi, M.D., co-chair of the American College of Radiology's Breast Imaging Commission. The first set is the same as with any mammogram; the second is the "displaced view," for which the technician compresses the breast to get the implant out of the way. "When implants are placed behind the chest wall, it's easier to see more tissue than when they're in front," says D'Orsi. At least there's one thing to take off the worry list: Per D'Orsi, the risk of rupture during mammography is small, even with all that manhandling.
Looking for Trouble
Do breast implants make mammography even harder?
By Dana Wood
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