Many factors are involved when assessing a woman’s risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. These factors include family history, age, geography, and many more. What some women may not know is, the density of breast tissue plays one of the most important factors. Dense breast tissue can alter the way breast cancer may appear on an annual screening mammogram and how your radiologist will interpret images from your imaging studies. Here are some details about breast tissue density and how certain women’s imaging studies including 3D mammograms can help.
What Is dense breast tissue?
Dense breast tissue is a specific description that categorizes how your breast tissue appears on a mammogram. Dense breast tissue is a very common finding. Traditional (2D) & 3D mammograms show images of different types of tissue. These images show non-dense tissue as dark and transparent areas. The dense breast tissue appears as solid white areas. These solid white areas are difficult to interpret since they are hard to see through. Dense breast tissue can make symptoms and signs of breast cancer hard to detect.
What causes it?
Dense breast tissue doesn’t have an exact cause. There are certain characteristics that point towards having high breast tissue density, however. A women’s age correlates with breast tissue density. As you age, your tissue will slowly become less dense. Women with a lower body mass index (BMI) are more likely to have more dense tissue. Women who have taken hormone therapy for menopause symptoms have shown an increased likelihood to have dense breast tissue. Keep these factors in mind as you go through annual screening mammogram appointments.
What should I do?
Women with dense breasts are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer, making it even more important to take the right precautions. Since dense breast tissue can make traditional mammograms difficult to interpret, it is recommended for women to have a 3D annual screening mammogram.
A 3D mammogram is a type of breast imaging study that expands the capabilities of a traditional mammogram (2D) without changing the process. 3D mammograms offer high-quality and more detailed results in comparison to traditional mammograms. Like a traditional mammogram, your breast will need to be compressed to complete this scan. 3D mammograms only require compression one time, unlike a traditional mammogram.
Are there other additional screening options?
Outside of your annual screening mammogram, your doctor may suggest supplemental screening options, such as a breast ultrasound or breast MRI to monitor any changes to your breast tissue.
Breast ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses sound waves to create detailed images of the breast tissue. It’s often recommended as a supplemental screening for women with dense breast tissue, as it can detect abnormalities such as lumps or cysts that may not show up on a screening mammogram. The process involves using a handheld device called a transducer, which moves over the breast, producing real-time images on a monitor. A breast ultrasound is particularly useful in distinguishing between solid masses and fluid-filled cysts, which can help reduce false positives.
For women with dense breast tissue, the combination of a mammogram and breast ultrasound can improve cancer detection rates by providing a more comprehensive view of the breast tissue.
Breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a powerful tool that provides highly detailed images of the breast, making it beneficial for women with dense breast tissue. Unlike mammograms or ultrasounds, breast MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create cross-sectional images of the breast, offering a different perspective that can reveal cancers not visible through other screening methods. This technique is often recommended for women at higher risk of breast cancer, such as those with a family history, genetic mutations, or very dense breasts.
How to schedule an appointment with us
Our goal is to provide you and your doctor with the most informative and accurate results. We make scheduling an appointment easy and convenient.
With multiple locations across South Jersey, we’re easily accessible from major highways and bridges. Our team is here to make the scheduling process smooth and stress-free.
If you are interested in more information regarding breast tissue density and women’s imaging studies that can help, reach out to any of the following locations:
- Cherry Hill Office – Cherry Hill, NJ
- Haddonfield Office – Haddonfield, NJ
- Marlton (Greentree) Office – Marlton, NJ
- Moorestown Office – Moorestown, NJ
- Turnersville Office – Turnersville, NJ
- West Deptford Office – West Deptford, NJ
- Willingboro Office – Willingboro, NJ
- Women’s Center at Cross Keys – Sewell, NJ
- Women’s Center at Medford – Medford, NJ
- Women’s Center at Mount Laurel – Mount Laurel, NJ
- Women’s Center at Voorhees – Voorhees Township, NJ
Learn more about the board-certified sub-specialized radiologists who read and interpret studies at SJRA here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dense breast tissue refers to the appearance of breast tissue on a mammogram. It is a common finding where the breast tissue appears as solid white areas on the images, making it difficult to detect abnormalities such as breast cancer.
The exact cause of dense breast tissue is unknown, but certain factors are associated with higher breast tissue density. These factors include age (younger women tend to have denser breasts), lower body mass index (BMI), and the use of hormone therapy.
If you have dense breasts, it is important to take extra precautions for breast cancer screening. In addition to a traditional mammogram, it is recommended for women with dense breasts to undergo an annual screening 3D mammogram or a breast MRI.
A 3D mammogram is an advanced women’s imaging study that enhances the capabilities of a traditional 2D mammogram. It provides more detailed and high-quality results compared to traditional mammograms. While the breast still needs to be compressed during the scan, the compression is required only once, unlike traditional mammograms.
A breast MRI scan offers a deeper look at breast tissue, allowing our radiologists to detect signs of breast cancer that may not be visible on a mammogram. It is a non-invasive, quick, and painless imaging study that can provide valuable information, especially for women with dense breast tissue.
For more information about breast tissue density and women’s imaging studies, you can reach out to any of our following locations:
• Cherry Hill Office – Cherry Hill, NJ
• Haddonfield Office – Haddonfield, NJ
• Marlton (Greentree) Office – Marlton, NJ
• Moorestown Office – Moorestown, NJ
• Turnersville Office – Turnersville, NJ
• West Deptford Office – West Deptford, NJ
• Willingboro Office – Willingboro, NJ
• Women’s Center at Cross Keys – Sewell, NJ
• Women’s Center at Medford – Medford, NJ
• Women’s Center at Mount Laurel – Mount Laurel, NJ
• Women’s Center at Voorhees – Voorhees Township, NJ
SJRA has a team of board-certified, subspecialized radiologists who are experts in breast imaging. They have extensive experience in reading and interpreting 3D mammograms, breast MRIs, and breast ultrasounds. You can learn more about our radiologists by viewing our physicians’ profiles page.