Does a breast augmentation affect the means to detect Cancer?
Perhaps the most significant concern over breast implants is the possibility of delayed detection of breast cancer with silicone and saline filled breast implants. Both of these are radiopaque, meaning the implants obstruct the breast tissue viewing to varying degrees on mammogram. Mammography techniques however have improved over the last few years enabling the radiographer to minimize the amount of breast that is hidden by the implant. It is important however to realize that 10-20% of breast cancers is invisible to x-ray, and therefore most breast cancers are still being discovered by self or physical examinations. Furthermore many clinicians also request other types of scans, i.e. ultrasound and magnetic resonance scans (MRI) in addition to mammograms where appropriate to further visualize the breast tissue. A woman with breast implants should be on the same schedule of routine mammography as all other women. The radiographer should be informed that she has implants and therefore sp
