Mammogram Interpretation & Management for a 17-Year-Old with Family History

Question
I recently referred a 17 year old for mammogram due to some suspicious tissue on palpation of the left breast and a strong family history of breast cancer. The results read heterogeneous parenchyma of the left breast with no cystic or solid lesion seen. Recommend management of any palpable abnormalities clinically. My question is, should she be referred for mammogram annually, or will breast exam with yearly physical be sufficient.          Knolen

Answer
The risk of a breast cancer - even with a strong family history - in a 17 year old girl is extremely small! And mammography is also probably not the best examination method in such a young girl (probably too dense breast tissues for a good examination). Just a physical examination is NEVER enough though. So I suggest - if any regular check ups are to be done - that they are done with either ultrasound or MRI (or both) scans and that any lesions seen are checked with scanning guided needle biopsies. Good luck!



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