BREAST DENSITY FACTS

Breast Density Facts

BI-RADS Density Scoring – Breast Imaging Rating & Data System

FATTY

SCATTERED DENSITIES

HETEROGENEOUSLY DENSE

EXTREMELY DENSE

Take a closer look at the difference between Fatty Breast Tissue and Dense Breast Tissue

Take responsibility for your own breast health! Did you know…

Studies show women with Dense Breast Tissue and women with implants need an additional exam such as an Ultrasound or MRI. They can find MORE and SMALLER cancers than can be detected by mammography alone.

What is Dense Breast Tissue?

FATTY BREAST

Mammogram

DENSE BREAST

Mammogram

DENSE BREAST TISSUE

Ultrasound

This 6mm cancer was not detected by the mammogram. Cancer appears DARK against the white background of Dense Breast Tissue with an Ultrasound. Cancers are easier to detect when an Ultrasound is used.

*Information Sources
Images, courtesy of Daniel E. Herron, MD
Pisano ED, et al, Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (DMIST) AKA: Diagnostic accuracy of digital versus film mammography: exploratory analysis of selected population subgroups in DMIST. 2008 Feb: 246(2):376-83
Berg WA, Blume JD, Cormack JB, Mendelson EB, et al, (ACRIN 6666), Combined screening with ultrasound and mammography vs mammography alone in women at elevated risk of breast cancer. JAMA. 2008 May 14; 299(18): 2151-2163. Oi: 10. 1001/jama. 299.18.2151
Kelly KM, Dean J, Comulada WS, et al. Breast cancer detection using automated whole breast ultrasound and mammography in radiolgraphically dense breasts. Eur Radiol 2010. 2012 Mar; 20(3):734-42. Doi: 10.1007/s00330-009-1588-y. Epub 2009 Sep 2
Arora N, King T, et al. Impact of breast density on presenting features of malignancy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2010. Oct; 17 Suppl 3:211-8. Doi: 10.1245/s10434-010-1237-3. Epub 2010 Sep 19.
Center for Disease Control, National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society