Dense breast tissue

Dense breast tissue
Mammograms depicting four levels of increasing breast density with corresponding mammography sensitivity.
Diagnostic methodMammogram
PrognosisIncreased risk of breast cancer, and late diagnosis of breast cancer

Dense breast tissue, also known as dense breasts, is a condition of the breasts where a higher proportion of the breasts are made up of glandular tissue and fibrous tissue than fatty tissue. Around 40–50% of women have dense breast tissue and one of the main medical components of the condition is that mammograms are unable to differentiate tumorous tissue from the surrounding dense tissue.[1] This increases the risk of late diagnosis of breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. Additionally, women with such tissue have a higher likelihood of developing breast cancer in general, though the reasons for this are poorly understood.[2]

  1. ^ Sprague BL, Gangnon RE, Burt V, Trentham-Dietz A, Hampton JM, Wellman RD, Kerlikowske K, Miglioretti DL (October 2014). "Prevalence of Mammographically Dense Breasts in the United States". Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 106 (10): 255. doi:10.1093/jnci/dju255. PMC 4200066. PMID 25217577.
  2. ^ "What Does It Mean to Have Dense Breasts?". cdc.gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 22, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
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