Dense Breast Tissue:What is It and Why does It Matter?
by Dr. Lauren Oldziej
What does it mean to have “dense breast tissue”?
October is breast cancer awareness month! Getting regularly screened with mammograms is the best way to prevent breast cancer. This type of imaging can reveal that you have “dense breast tissue”. I’d like to take a moment to explain this finding in more detail.
Dense breast tissue is a very common mammogram finding. If your mammogram reveals dense breast tissue, this can be further defined as “heterogeneously dense” or “extremely dense” breast tissue.
Heterogeneously dense breast tissue means the breast has a mix of dense glandular (milk glands), fibrous (supportive tissue), and fatty tissue.
Extremely dense breast tissue means most of the breast has glandular and fibrous tissue with little fatty tissue.
Breast density is an important factor to know since it can affect the accuracy of mammograms. Dense breast tissue appears white on a mammogram, like most breast masses do. The reduced contrast between dark (fatty) and light (dense) areas can make it more difficult to examine all of the breast tissue accurately.
Having dense breast tissue is considered a risk factor for breast cancer, but it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s reason to worry. Radiologists carefully review mammograms, and if they see anything that needs further investigation, they will recommend additional imaging (i.e., diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI) to get a clearer picture and help decide the next best steps.
While annual breast cancer screening is recommended for most, some patients may need to start screening earlier or have more frequent imaging depending on individual risk factors and past imaging results. For example, if you've had abnormal findings on a previous mammogram, a family history of breast cancer, dense breast tissue, or carry certain genetic mutations, screenings may be recommended more often than once a year with additional types of imaging. The goal is to make sure we're keeping a close eye on factors that could increase your risk, so we can catch any changes as early as possible.
What to learn more? Visit these helpful resources:
https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/breast-changes/dense-breasts
Have more questions? Your provider would be happy to answer them at your next wellness visit! Schedule here!
In health,
Dr. Lauren Oldziej