Breast cancer diagnosis in women with subglandular silicone gel-filled augmentation implants.

PURPOSE: To determine whether breast augmentation implants interfere with detection of breast cancer and to characterize the projections that offer an improvement in the detection of disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mammographic examinations, clinical presentation, and pathologic findings were retrospectively reviewed in 18 patients who underwent breast augmentation with silicone gel-filled implants. RESULTS: At diagnosis, 16 patients (89%) had palpable abnormalities. Standard mammographic views were negative in 17 patients (94%). Modified implant compression views (used with implant displacement) showed abnormalities in 12 patients (67%). Sixteen (89%) of the 18 patients had invasive carcinomas, and seven (39%) had positive axillary lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: Standard mammographic views are inadequate for breast cancer screening in patients with silicone gel-filled implants. Although additional modified compression views offer a moderate improvement in breast cancer detection, imaging with tangential ma...