Breast implants: Do they interfere with mammograms?

Yes, women with breast implants can still have mammograms. However, breast implants may decrease the ability of mammograms to detect breast cancer, because implants can obscure the image of a tumor.

If you have breast implants, you may want to consider getting mammograms at a facility that does a large number of these examinations annually. The mammogram procedure may be slightly different and the images more difficult to interpret in women with breast implants. For these reasons, you may benefit from a radiologist experienced in such examinations.

There's a very slight risk that breast implants may rupture during a mammogram. But the benefits of mammography in the early detection of breast cancer outweigh this risk.

Breast cancer screening guidelines are the same for women with breast implants as for all women. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a screening mammogram every one to two years after age 40, depending on your risk.