Dense breast tissue: what you need to know before your next mammogram

When your healthcare provider tells you that you have dense breast tissue, it’s completely understandable to be a little concerned, but don’t worry. Lots of women have dense breast tissue.

If you have dense breasts, it just means that you might require a little extra attention during your screening mammograms, and consider additional screening methods such as a breast ultrasound or a breast MRI. That’s because dense breast tissue can make it more difficult to see potential areas of concern in your mammogram results.

We’ll help you understand how dense breast tissue can impact your health, what to expect from your mammogram results, how to prepare for your next screening, and we will look at breast MRIs and breast ultrasounds. Let’s find out more.

What is dense breast tissue? How common is it? 

Breasts are made up of dense breast tissue and fatty breast tissue. A woman with dense breasts has more dense tissue than fatty tissue. As it turns out, dense breasts are very common: about 40% of all women are found to have dense breast tissue.

Dense breast tissue is categorized into four main types based on how fatty or how dense your breast tissue is. These categories help radiologists assess how dense the breast tissue is:

• Category A: In this category, the breasts are made up of mostly fatty tissue, making it easier to detect any abnormalities on a mammogram. Only a small portion of the tissue is dense.
• Category B: This is when there are some areas of dense tissue, but most of the breast is still fatty. Mammograms can still be quite effective in this case, though there may be some spots where abnormalities are harder to spot.
• Category C: A significant amount of the breast is dense tissue, but there are still some areas that are fatty. This can make it harder to see small abnormalities on a mammogram because dense tissue can obscure them.
• Category D: In this category, the breast is mostly dense tissue, which makes it much more difficult to detect small tumors or other issues on a mammogram. Additional imaging tests, like a breast ultrasound or a breast MRI, may be recommended for women with extremely dense breasts.

These categories are important for understanding how breast density might impact your mammogram results, and whether you may need follow-up breast imaging.

Why does dense breast tissue matter?

Dense breast tissue makes it more difficult for the technologist to interpret the images of a mammogram. As a result, a screening can be less sensitive in women who have dense breasts, and could potentially miss cancer. This is one reason women who have dense breasts may be asked to come back for additional imaging, which we discuss below.

Dense breast tissue and your mammogram results

If your healthcare provider tells you that you have dense breasts, then the accuracy of your mammogram results could be impacted, as dense tissue can be more difficult to analyze than fatty tissue. We’ll guide you through how your results can be impacted, how your healthcare team can help, and how having dense breasts can make finding cancer more challenging.

How does dense breast tissue affect mammogram results?

Dense breast tissue can look similar to unhealthy breast tissue. Some abnormal breast changes like calcifications and tumors both appear as white areas in a mammogram, while fatty tissue looks dark. Because dense tissue looks similar to unhealthy tissue, mammogram results from women with dense breasts can be more difficult to understand clearly.

Why does dense breast tissue make it more challenging to find potential cancer?

Because dense breast tissue and cancer both appear as a solid white area on a mammogram, it makes it more challenging to find any potential cancer. This is why, for women with dense breasts, it is important to ensure your women’s imaging provider uses 3D technology for their screening mammograms and offers additional screening options. A 3D mammogram provides greater visibility into dense areas of breast tissue in comparison to a 2D mammogram, and better characterizes their appearance, so you can get a more accurate diagnosis and more personalized care.

Preparing for your mammogram if you have dense breast tissue

Now that you know you have dense breasts, and what exactly that means, you’ll be ready for your next mammogram. There are few things you should keep in mind as you get ready. We’ll look at what to ask your provider, not just before your screening mammogram, but also after your screening.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider before the mammogram?

When you speak with your healthcare provider about your next mammogram, be sure to have these questions on hand, so you can stay informed:

• Do I have any risk factors that increase my chances of getting breast cancer?
• At what age should I start getting a screening mammogram?
• How often should I get a mammogram?
• What are the benefits of getting a 3D mammogram?

It’s important to have an open and honest conversation with your healthcare provider about your health history, risk factors, and any other personal concerns. 

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider after my mammogram?

Having dense breast tissue can make it harder to interpret your mammogram images, so asking the right questions will help ensure you understand your mammogram results, and any follow-up steps. Here are some important questions to consider:

• How does my dense breast tissue affect my mammogram results? 
• What’s my personal risk level for breast cancer with dense breast tissue? 
• How can lifestyle changes affect my breast density over time?
• How should I monitor my breast health between mammograms? 
• What signs or symptoms should I watch for during a breast self-exam?

When it’s time to discuss your screening mammogram results, asking these questions will help you to better understand your next steps, so you can make informed choices about your care.

Alternative imaging for people with dense breast tissue

Your healthcare provider may recommend follow-up imaging if you have dense breasts, just so they can take a second look using a different scan, or so they can double check anything out of the ordinary. Let’s check out alternative imaging for breast screenings, including breast MRIs and breast ultrasound, which are often recommended for women with dense breasts.

What alternative imaging scans are available if I have dense breasts?

If you have dense breast tissue, there are several alternative imaging options available that can provide more accurate results than traditional methods. Two common alternatives are breast MRI and breast ultrasound. These scans can help detect abnormalities that might be missed otherwise, giving you peace of mind, and more reliable information about your breast health.

How effective are ultrasounds and MRIs for dense breast tissue?

Ultrasound is particularly useful for dense breast tissue because it uses sound waves to create images, allowing your doctor to see real-time images of areas that might be obscured. It is often used in conjunction with other scans to provide a more complete picture.

A breast MRI uses a magnetic field to take detailed images of your breast tissue. MRIs are highly sensitive, and can detect even small changes in your breast health, making them an excellent option for people with dense breast tissue.

When should I consider other imaging options for breast health?

You should consider alternative imaging options if your dense breast tissue has made it difficult to get clear results from traditional methods. If you have a family history of breast cancer, or if you’ve had suspicious findings in the past, these alternative scans can offer additional clarity. Consider discussing your specific situation with your healthcare provider, who can recommend the best imaging options based on your individual needs and risk factors.

How to schedule an appointment with us

Our goal is to offer you and your healthcare provider the most informative results possible, and we make it easy for you to get an appointment. 

With numerous locations across South Jersey, you’ll find us conveniently located near major highways and key bridges in the region. 

We’ll ensure the entire scheduling process is as effortless as possible for you. Above all, we are here to help you.

Reach out to us at any of the following locations to book an appointment:

• 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, subspecialized radiologists who read, analyze and interpret the findings here at South Jersey Radiology Associates.