“How dangerous is a mammogram for a 15 year old?”
My 15 year old daughter has a fairly large lump in her right breast. It's at the top of her breast (I'm not sure if that makes a difference) she has had an ultrasound but they didn't see anything. Her doctor says it may be a pulled muscle (although she did say its not in the "normal" place for a pulled muscle....whatever that means) It's been about 6 weeks and the lump is still there. The doctor thought it would have gone away at this point. She said to continue to wait to see if it goes away on its own.
She is hesitant to have her get a mammogram since it will expose her to radiation. And she said that breast cancer in a teen is very rare. I guess I'm wondering if her concerns about the mammogram are warranted and if we should just play the wait and see game for awhile. Or if I should push for more tests.
She is hesitant to have her get a mammogram since it will expose her to radiation. And she said that breast cancer in a teen is very rare. I guess I'm wondering if her concerns about the mammogram are warranted and if we should just play the wait and see game for awhile. Or if I should push for more tests.
Female | 15 years old
Complaint duration: 90 days
3 Answers
Ultrasound is better for this issue and there is no radiation. I would wait 3 months and see if it's still there, then either repeat the US or do a mammogram. Of course, MRI is the gold standard and there is no radiation.
The risk of radiation from a single mammogram causing a problem is essentially zero, however radiation exposure is cumulative over a lifetime and the appropriate workup for a breast lump in a 15yo is indeed ultrasound. Breast tissue in a very young woman also tends to be dense, limiting the sensitivity of mammography. If there is high clinical suspicion for malignancy (which does not sound to be the case in your daughter), then a mammogram may be appropriate.
Good morning,
If your daughter has already had an ultrasound and it was “negative," perhaps the next best step is for a breast MRI with a marker placed on the lump so that it can truly be characterized. I agree that a mammogram is not the next best test for a 15 year old. A breast MRI uses no radiation at all. A small dose of gadolinium (contrast) is used. It is safe as long as there is no pregnancy. The MRI will completely characterize the lump. Make sure you show the technologist where it is so the technologist can market with a vitamin E capsules.
I hope this helps.
Dr. Bentley
If your daughter has already had an ultrasound and it was “negative," perhaps the next best step is for a breast MRI with a marker placed on the lump so that it can truly be characterized. I agree that a mammogram is not the next best test for a 15 year old. A breast MRI uses no radiation at all. A small dose of gadolinium (contrast) is used. It is safe as long as there is no pregnancy. The MRI will completely characterize the lump. Make sure you show the technologist where it is so the technologist can market with a vitamin E capsules.
I hope this helps.
Dr. Bentley
