For women with dense breasts, an additional breast screening test after a mammogram may find cancer not seen on the mammogram alone. There are benefits and things to consider when making a choice about whether to have an additional screening test after your mammogram.
Talk with your health care provider about which one of these tests is right for you.
Cancer Detection by Screening Test
| If 1,000 Women Are Screened With: | Number of Women Found to Have Cancer |
|---|---|
| Mammogram Type | |
| 2D mammogram alone | 5 |
| 3D mammogram (tomosynthesis) | 6* |
| Most Common Additional Screening Tests | |
| Mammogram PLUS ultrasound (sonogram) | 8 |
| Mammogram PLUS contrast-enhanced MRI | 15 |
| Other Additional Screening Tests | |
| Mammogram PLUS Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) | 12 |
| Contrast-enhanced mammogram (CEM) | 15 © DenseBreast-info.org Rev. March 2022 |
- Ultrasound is the most common additional test used after a mammogram. Ultrasound uses sound waves and does not involve radiation or an injection into your vein. Gentle pressure is applied to the breasts and rarely causes discomfort. An Ultrasound screening takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) involves an injection of a gadolinium contrast solution into your vein that may feel a little cold while it is injected. You lie on your stomach and your breasts fit into two openings. The contrast-enhanced MRI is done in the tunnel of a large magnet. The magnet makes loud noises while generating images. Contrast-enhanced MRI does not use radiation and takes from 10 to 25 minutes.
- Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) involves an injection of a radiotracer into your vein. About 5 minutes after the injection, each breast is placed between two detectors, similar to a mammogram but with less pressure. An MBI test takes at least 40 minutes.
- Contrast-enhanced mammogram (CEM) requires an injection of iodine-based contrast into your vein. This is the same contrast used in CT scans. It makes you feel warm all over and you may even feel like you might pee on yourself. After about 2½ minutes, you will have a CEM. A CEM test takes about 10 minutes.
For more information, see Question/Answer: “What are other breast screening tests after my mammogram?“
Learn More:
- 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
- Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
- Patient Risk Checklist (print)
- Patient Questions and Answers