Volumetric Breast Density understandbreastdensity.or g
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Composition of Breasts Breasts are comprised of fibroglandular
and fatty tissue. Fibroglandular tissue includes nodes used for
milk production, and ligaments. They appear white in mammograms.
Images courtesy of Volpara Solutions Limited.
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Breast Composition Categories The American College of Radiology
created breast composition categories to describe mammographic
density: a. The breasts are almost entirely fatty b. There are
scattered areas of fibroglandular density c. The breasts are
heterogeneously dense which may obscure small masses d. The breasts
are extremely dense, which lowers the sensitivity of
mammography
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Measuring Breast Density Mammograms typically involve having
two x-rays of each breast at different angles. Tomosynthesis is a
3D mammogram where multiple views of the breast are taken and
reconstructed into a 3D view. BI-RADS is calculated by averaging
the percentage of fibroglandular tissue, to determine which
classification the woman is. Radiologists assess density by eye
using the x-rays. Automated breast density software can also
calculate this. Density cannot be assessed by examining the
physical breast.
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VolparaDensity Mammography Scorecard Images and volumetric
assessments are courtesy of Volpara Solutions Limited. Volumetric
data can be used to determine patient-specific dose and the
pressure applied by the paddles
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a. The breasts are almost entirely fatty 2.9% Volumetric
Density
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a. The breasts are almost entirely fatty 4.3% Volumetric
Density
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b. There are scattered areas of fibroglandular tissue 6.5%
Volumetric Density
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b. There are scattered areas of fibroglandular tissue 6.8%
Volumetric Density
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c. The breasts are heterogeneously dense which may obscure
small masses 8.6% Volumetric Density
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c. The breasts are heterogeneously dense which may obscure
small masses 11.6% Volumetric Density
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d. The breasts are extremely dense, which lowers the
sensitivity of mammography 17.6% Volumetric Density
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d. The breasts are extremely dense, which lowers the
sensitivity of mammography 24.6% Volumetric Density
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Mammograms for the same woman over 8 years
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MRI shows breast composition in extremely dense breasts
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Risk Associated with Breast Density It is difficult to identify
cancers in dense tissue as the fibroglandular tissue appears white,
the same as cancers, and can mask them. Studies have shown
increased cancer risk for denser breasts very dense breasts have a
six times greater risk than very fatty breasts of getting
cancer.