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Are Repeated Mammogram Advisable When Diagnosed With Dense Tissues In The Breast?

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Posted on Wed, 20 Jul 2016
Question: Hi:
I had my first mammogram over a year ago with an ultrasound (age 40). They found that my right breast was really dense. They followed up with a 6 month mammogram to continue to baseline it (no change). Now, I am at my year follow up and we screened both breasts using the 3d technology for the first time. I was advised this would allow them see the layers of tissue.

They have called me back for an ultrasound. While I know that dense tissue is not uncommon, is it generally found in only 1 breast? They aren't being explicit that the ultrasound (next week) is just precautionary or what it's purpose is in conjunction with the 3d mammogram already completed. What is the purpose of the ultrasound (what can it tell that the 3d mammogram could not show?).

Is the multiple screenings so close in timeframe normal for women with dense tissue? If so, what should I expect from here if nothing concerning is found and I am just determined to have dense tissue? Will I need to be screened in higher frequency/cycle time in the future to monitor this?

Thanks again.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mukund Savaskar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Re-mammography post-3d mammography /Under Evaluation

Detailed Answer:
Brief Ans- Re-mammography post-3d mammography /Under Evaluation



Hi,Dear !! Thanks for your query to HCM.
Read and reviewed query facts in context to your health concerns about the re-mammography after 3d mammography done lately.

Dear,It seems that your are annoyed with repeated mammography checks in your case,especially post-3d mammography,why one more still now?

Dear,More details please as follows-
Dear,I am without any briefing about the dense tissues creating problem,what sort of clinical association is there with your menses?As such I would need more details, on your breast problem about the lump and worries and queries for which you were ready to undergo repeated mammography in last 2 yrs.

SO please more details of breast complaints and menstrual relation of dense breasts? and on which side firmness is more and many more facts about the breast for which your are following it up with your attending radiologist.

If you can update the text reports/ and the scanned mammograms,it would help Me to reply more specifically on your queries of repeat mammogram after 3d mammogram, lately advised to you.

Await more specific queries , for more replies on various aspects, if need be, so as to fix this problem.

Welcome for any further query in this regard.

If need be, update any health issue 24 x 7 by a direct question to ME, at following HCM link-http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=70229

Keep Me updated,if you want to update more details and ask more update queries ,
You are most Welcome herewith !!

Good Day!!

Wishing Good Healthy Life in time to come!!

Dr.Savaskar M.N. XXXXXXX Surgical Specialist
M.S.Genl-CVTS
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Naveen Kumar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Mukund Savaskar (1 hour later)
Hello:

Thank you for your quick reply and feedback.

I am grateful for the monitoring vs. not being cautious, but there has been poor communication with my doctors office on both parts as to the rationale and the plan. Instead of explaining to me the situation, someone calls to schedule yet another screening. On my part, I will take the initiative to get the answers from their office. However, I am also curious if this is normal to monitor in such frequency or if I should be concerned.

That said, I accessed their patient portal this afternoon and found the reports.
I attached the report summaries. The latest one is not posted on the portal yet.

It looks like they found "focal asymmetry within the upper outer breast" persisting from each screening. "Finding may relate to asymmetric normal fibroglandular parenchyma." "Probably benign."

I am just curious as to the reason for the ultrasound if this is just precautionary, given the 3d imaging. What can the ultrasound detect that the 3d mammogram would not be able to show?

Thanks again.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mukund Savaskar (20 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Ultrasound study call, post-3D mammography /Under Evaluation

Detailed Answer:
Brief Ans-Ultrasound study call, post-3d mammography /Under Evaluation

Hi,Dear !! Thanks for your updates of the text reports to HCM.
Read and reviewed query facts in context to your health concerns and in context to your Mammography updates- about the Ultrasound advised after 3d mammography done lately.

Dear,I reviewed your reports over last 3 sessions -
the first mammography-which is -Screening Mammography-to detect more information than that from the clinically suspicious dens breast in right upper quadrant.

Second Mammography was diagnostic and was with comparative study with the Screening Mammography test done last time.
Usually regular screening is done annually, but the call back is done in your case after 6 mths-as you had fibroglandular assymetric stomal density in right upper quadrant of the breast.

Such changes could be normal dense stromal densities / or could be site for future breast cancers, and hence as a standard protocol you are being called after Second Mammography, for the 3-d mammography.

Second Mammography-was a diagnostic mammography,which gave a lead that definite stromal density was there, which needs to be studied in more details, which is done-as standard protocol-with 3 d mammography, where the overlapping of the surrounding breast tissue and fat does not affect much and the assessment of the breast density is done with tomosynthesis of 3 d picture of the breast, giving more clear idea than and better than Second mammography-which only involves- 2 d-digital mammography, which gives less information.

So after 3-d study in your case-whose report is yet to be received by you,the recall for Ultarsound in this scenario indicates and suggests, that your fibroglandular densities in right upper quadrant , though not indicative of XXXXXXX cancer picture, needs more detailed studies from the Ultrasonologist-a radiological expert doctor, with whom more incremental Cancer detection rate could be expected from this Ultrasonography study in right breast density.

Usually Mammographies are done by technicians,though with FDA approved softwares to sustain the quality and the work loads.

3d-mammogrpahy is technologically more advanced study giving more clear cancer detection assessments -almost 2 times more- than the 2 d mammography-routinely done.

Reply to your specific question-

Q- What can the ultrasound detect that the 3d mammogram would not be able to show?
Ans-Ultrasound is more advanced study and is advised as a standard protocol to be used only in suspicious cases of mammography negative breast densities, detected after 3-d mammography report.

So better update Me the latest 3-d mammography report soon,so that after study of the 3 d-mammography report,I could be able to assess more and reply your query in more details and clarity,for You.

Do's Suggested-

So just keep Cool and Co-operate with radiologists at the centre,as you are in the right hands and they are doing their jobs with all responsibilities and sincerity.
Though communication is needed with attending doctors, its the work load which might be a factor for all these anxieties for you.
So better co-operate and keep Cool.

Await more specific queries , for more replies on various aspects, if need be, so as to fix this problem.

Welcome for any further query in this regard.

If need be, update any health issue 24 x 7 by a direct question to ME, at following HCM link-http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=70229

Keep Me updated, if you want to update more details and ask more update queries ,
You are most Welcome herewith !!

Good Day!!

Wishing Good Healthy Life in time to come!!

Dr.Savaskar M.N. XXXXXXX Surgical Specialist
M.S.Genl-CVTS
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Mukund Savaskar

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1978

Answered : 3606 Questions

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Are Repeated Mammogram Advisable When Diagnosed With Dense Tissues In The Breast?

Brief Answer: Re-mammography post-3d mammography /Under Evaluation Detailed Answer: Brief Ans- Re-mammography post-3d mammography /Under Evaluation Hi,Dear !! Thanks for your query to HCM. Read and reviewed query facts in context to your health concerns about the re-mammography after 3d mammography done lately. Dear,It seems that your are annoyed with repeated mammography checks in your case,especially post-3d mammography,why one more still now? Dear,More details please as follows- Dear,I am without any briefing about the dense tissues creating problem,what sort of clinical association is there with your menses?As such I would need more details, on your breast problem about the lump and worries and queries for which you were ready to undergo repeated mammography in last 2 yrs. SO please more details of breast complaints and menstrual relation of dense breasts? and on which side firmness is more and many more facts about the breast for which your are following it up with your attending radiologist. If you can update the text reports/ and the scanned mammograms,it would help Me to reply more specifically on your queries of repeat mammogram after 3d mammogram, lately advised to you. Await more specific queries , for more replies on various aspects, if need be, so as to fix this problem. Welcome for any further query in this regard. If need be, update any health issue 24 x 7 by a direct question to ME, at following HCM link-http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=70229 Keep Me updated,if you want to update more details and ask more update queries , You are most Welcome herewith !! Good Day!! Wishing Good Healthy Life in time to come!! Dr.Savaskar M.N. XXXXXXX Surgical Specialist M.S.Genl-CVTS