Newsletter

Augmentation Mammoplasty and Detection of Breast Cancer

The issue of surveillance for breast cancer is an important one and understandably of concern to patients and their physicians. The literature indicates that woman who have undergone augmentation mammoplasty do not run a higher risk of breast cancer or present at a later stage. Nevertheless, many surgeons recommend the subpectoral placement of breast implants in order to help in detection by tests such as screening mammography. A recent paper in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reviewing the records of a new group of patients came to the interesting conclusion that the implant (saline or silicone) or pocket (submuscular or subglandular) made no difference as far as detection on imaging. This is a very interesting finding but one should probably wait for corroboration from larger groups of patients and more studies before making any decision based on it alone.