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dense breast tissue

Clinical significance: 1) risk factor for breast cancer [1] 2) genetically determined 3) 4 categories of mammographic density [2] a) almost entirely fat (< 25%) b) scattered fibroglandular densities (25-50%) c) heterogenously dense (51-75%) d) extremely dense (>75%) 4) some states may require informing women whether they have dense breast tissue - and if so, that dense tissue may hide tumors on mammograms & increase one's risk for breast cancer [3] Radiology: - digital screening mammography [4]

Related

screening for breast cancer

General

abnormal imaging

References

  1. Journal Watch 22(21):159, 2002 Boyd NF et al Heritability of mammographic density, a risk factor for breast cancer. N Engl J Med 347:886, 2002 PMID: 12239257
  2. Chen J et al, Projecting absolute invasive breast cancer risk in white women with a model that includes mammographic density. J Natl Cancer Inst 2006, 98:1215 PMID: 16954474 - Barlow WE et al, Prospective breast cancer risk prediction model for women undergoing screening mammography J Natl Cancer Inst 2006, 98:1204 PMID: 16954473 - Bondy ML & Newman LA Assessing breast cancer risk: Evolution of the Gail Model. J Natl Cancer Inst 2006, 98:1172 PMID: 16954464
  3. Grady D New Laws Add a Divisive Component to Breast Screening New York Times, Oct 24, 2012 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/health/laws-tell-mammogram-clinics-to-address-breast-density.html
  4. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 17, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2015