Mammographic Breast Density: Current Assessment Methods, Clinical Implications, and Future Directions

Mammographic breast density is widely accepted as an independent risk factor for the development of breast cancer. In addition, because dense breast tissue may mask breast malignancies, breast density is inversely related to the sensitivity of screening mammography. Given the risks associated with b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Seminars in ultrasound, CT, and MRI CT, and MRI, 2023-02, Vol.44 (1), p.35-45
Main Authors: Edmonds, Christine E., O'Brien, Sophia R., Conant, Emily F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Breast Density
Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
Early Detection of Cancer - methods
Female
Humans
Mammography - methods
Risk Factors
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Summary:Mammographic breast density is widely accepted as an independent risk factor for the development of breast cancer. In addition, because dense breast tissue may mask breast malignancies, breast density is inversely related to the sensitivity of screening mammography. Given the risks associated with breast density, as well as ongoing efforts to stratify individual risk and personalize breast cancer screening and prevention, numerous studies have sought to better understand the factors that impact breast density, and to develop and implement reproducible, quantitative methods to assess mammographic density. Breast density assessments have been incorporated into risk assessment models to improve risk stratification. Recently, novel techniques for analyzing mammographic parenchymal complexity, or texture, have been explored as potential means of refining mammographic tissue-based risk assessment beyond breast density.
ISSN:0887-2171
1558-5034
DOI:10.1053/j.sult.2022.11.001