Xeromammography after augmentation mammoplasty

Abstract

An 8-year review done of mammography at one institution identified 30 patients who had undergone a previous breast augmentation procedure. Of the 30, six had had silicone injections, 20 silicone-filled implants, and six saline-filled implants. Both free and encapsulated silicone significantly obscured underlying breast tissue because of density and associated calcifications, which would have interfered with detection of subclinical carcinomas. Xeromammography proved useful, however, in clarifying the nature of clinically palpable masses and in studying complications following the breast augmentation procedure.