Breast Density: What Every Woman Should Know

If you've had a mammogram, you may have received a letter saying you have "dense breast tissue." About half of all women do. But what does it mean, and should you be concerned?

What Is Breast Density?

Breast density refers to the proportion of fibrous and glandular tissue compared to fatty tissue in your breasts. It has nothing to do with breast size or how they feel — it can only be determined by mammography.

Radiologists classify breast density into four categories:

• **A: Almost entirely fatty** (~10% of women)
• **B: Scattered areas of fibroglandular density** (~40%)
• **C: Heterogeneously dense** (~40%)
• **D: Extremely dense** (~10%)

Categories C and D are considered "dense." About 50% of women fall into these categories.

Why Does Breast Density Matter?

1. It Affects Mammogram Accuracy On a mammogram, both dense tissue and cancer appear white. This means dense tissue can "hide" or mask a tumor, making it harder for radiologists to detect cancer. Studies show mammography sensitivity drops from about 85% in fatty breasts to 62-68% in very dense breasts.

2. It's an Independent Risk Factor Women with extremely dense breasts (Category D) have a **4-6 times higher risk** of developing breast cancer compared to women with fatty breasts (Category A). Dense tissue itself is a risk factor, separate from family history.

Florida's Breast Density Notification Law

Florida requires that mammography facilities inform patients about their breast density. If you receive a density notification, it doesn't mean something is wrong — it means your doctor should consider whether additional screening (like ultrasound or MRI) would be beneficial.

How 3D Mammography Helps

3D mammography (tomosynthesis) is particularly valuable for women with dense breasts:

• Creates layered images that allow radiologists to "see through" dense tissue
• Studies show 3D mammography detects **41% more invasive cancers** in dense breasts
• Reduces false-positive callbacks by up to 40%
• The same machine performs both 2D and 3D in one exam

What Should You Do?

If you have dense breasts: - Continue annual mammograms — they still detect many cancers in dense tissue - Ask about 3D mammography (we use it at AMI as our standard) - Discuss supplemental screening options with your doctor - Know your risk factors: family history, age, prior biopsies - Consider a formal risk assessment if multiple factors are present

Don't panic: Having dense breasts is common and normal. It simply means being proactive about screening and working with your doctor to develop a personalized plan.

Schedule Your 3D Mammogram

AMI uses Hologic 3D tomosynthesis with CAD for every screening mammogram. No referral needed. Call (727) 398-5999.