Are Abnormal Mammogram Results Common for Women Who Have Undergone Breast Reductions?

It’s not
unusual for patients to have changes in their mammograms following breast
reduction surgery.Following breast
reduction surgery significant changes can occur in the breast architecture.These include scarring, cyst formation, fat
necrosis and microcalcifications from dissolving fat.Under these circumstances, it’s
appropriate to obtain a new baseline study six months after surgery.Changes that have occurred following surgery
may require further investigation. For this reason, it’s not unusual for
radiologists to obtain additional views, ultrasound studies, digital
mammography and MRI studies. Once a new baseline has been
established, patients more or less return to their pre-operative routine.If you have concerns about mammography
following breast reduction, it’s important to discuss this issue with your
plastic surgeon.Your surgeon should be
able to clarify the issues and alleviate your anxiety.

Hello!  Thank you for your question!   It is known that women are more in tune with their breasts and more diligent with examination and feeling/knowing the contour of her breasts, thus able to identify any abnormality sooner, with breast surgery.  I typically recommend a preoperative mammogram prior to any breast procedure for a baseline, as the architecture will change after the procedure.  You should remain proactive with your monthly self examination, annual clinical examination, and mammograms beginning at age 40 (unless family history, as directed by the Radiological Society), and annually thereafter.  If there is anything concerning on mammogram, other imaging modalities would be utilized, including ultrasound and/or MRI.  It is possible that you may be called back at the first mammogram after your procedure, as it will have changed.  This doesn't necessarily mean that there will be a suspicious lesion, but just for confirmation.  Best wishes!  Hope that this helps!

There can be changes after any breast surgery due to scarring, calcifications or fat necrosis, which can look different or suspicious on mammogram. It's so important to get routine studies and do any follow-up recommended so that the radiologist can compare the imaging studies and determine if anything else needs to be done.  For now, make your appointment for the additional testing and try to relax knowing that you are taking care of yourself!

Any breast procedure will create regions of calcification within the breast tissue as part of the healing process. Its unavoidable. These larger calcification patterns are easily distinguishable from the micro-calcifications that signify malignant breast tissue on digital mammography and breast MRI.

Your pre and post reduction mammograms will be very different in appearance, and it sounds like your mammographer is seeking additional views in order to 'clear' the changes he/she is noting on the post-op mammogram.

Thank you for the question.  

After breast reduction surgery, mammograms may “visualize” scar tissue/calcifications related to the surgical procedure. These findings may generate more callbacks for additional testing compared to patients who have not had  surgical procedures.

Despite knowing that  there may be “false positives” on mammogram studies I tell patients that is still worth undergoing biopsy for any radiographic lesion that appears to be suspicious for malignancy.

I hope this helps.