Summation Shadow Under Right Breast Implant

Question

a summation shadow showed up where my scar is under the right side of my breat implant, it appears to be scar tissue. Is this normal? I have no pain. I was having an x-ray for knee surgery.

Jason Hess, MD · Answer

Towson,

	Interesting question.  Summation shadows are usually normal (this is a radiographic image of materials overlying one another).  Nevertheless, This raises important questions:  Your age and family history help to decipher your risk of breast cancer.  This is a fear of most women.  If you are over 40 or have immediate family relatives with breast cancer, seek a mammogram.  If you are younger and otherwise healthy with no family history of breast cancer, perform regular self exams and follow up with yoru plastic surgeon.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

This does not sound to be a major concern and most likeley will require a follow up xray to insure a stable appearance.

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

As noted here by others, this is probably of no concern. However, the important word in the previous sentence in highlighted!  There must have been a reason the rqadiologist mentioned this--was it out of thoroughness, possible real concern, or was it to just "cover himself or herself?" While I can indeed understand the latter, particularly in this age of lawsuit-happy people, perhaps we can give the radiologist the benefit of the doubt, and take it for what it is: it was seen, it may mean something, and therefore was officially reported. If you are a cynic, you might even think that the radiologist was unscrupulous and simply wanted to stimulate the "need" for additional follow-up X-rays! Let's hope not.

	So if we return to the idea that this could (but probably doesn't) mean anything serious, there are only two possible responses: 1) decide this means nothing and ignore it. Probably OK, but there's that highlighted word again. What if you are wrong and it does mean something that could have been detected early? Was the radiologist willing to bet your life on that? Are you?

	2) decide that this needs at least further discussion and maybe more follow-up. I'd start by asking your doctor to speak with the radiologist and determine what he or she meant by use of the term summation shadow. In itself, this is a radiologic normal occurrence. So why mention it? If it warrants further follow-up in your doctor's and radiologist's agreed opinion, likely one additional X-ray will conclusively answer the question.

	Good luck, and in the meantime, don't worry!

Richard H. Fryer, MD · Answer

A summation shadow is a normal finding on chest x-ray when breast implants are present.  It simply means the radiologist is seeing two "shadows" intersect and combine to form a more dense area on the x-ray.  It has nothing to do with the scar of the skin most likely.

Brian K. Brzowski, MD, FACS · Answer

If an abnormality is detected on an xray that is worrisome, your radiologist might ask for additional views or recommend other treatment/evaluation.  Provided they've not asked you to do anything further, you can assume that they do not feel it necessary to worry. 

	To be safe, it is always my advice to question the radiologist who performed the test and/or ask the same of the physician who ordered the test to see what they recommend.

Summation Shadow Under Right Breast Implant

Answers (7)

Answer: Summation shadow is a normal finding on x-ray.

Answer: Summation shadow is a normal finding on x-ray.

Answer: Summation shadows are usually nothing to worry about.

Answer: Summation shadows are usually nothing to worry about.

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Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

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Summation Shadow Under Right Breast Implant

Answers (7)

Answer: Summation shadow is a normal finding on x-ray.

Answer: Summation shadow is a normal finding on x-ray.

Answer: Summation shadows are usually nothing to worry about.

Answer: Summation shadows are usually nothing to worry about.

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.