Breast Density

Breast density, or fibroglandular density, is found through breast imaging and varies based on the amount of fat to the amount of connective tissue. About 50 percent of women have what is referred to as dense breasts, where the tissue appears white on mammograms and can hide cancers, which also appear white. Women with very dense breasts may need to undergo supplemental imaging that can see through dense breast tissue, such as breast ultrasound, breast MRI or nuclear imaging. Many U.S. states now have legislation requiring radiologists to inform patients if they have dense breasts. Some states also now require insurance companies to cover supplemental imaging  in these patients. Breast density is graded into 4 classes, or BI-RAD scores, to explain the level of density in the radiology report. 

This is an example of 3-D ultrasound imaging on a breast, designed to help increase efficiency and diagnostic accuracy in any practice. Image courtesy of Hologic.

This is an example of TriVu ultrasound imaging on a breast, designed to help increase efficiency and diagnostic accuracy in any practice. Image courtesy of Hologic.

Feature | Breast Imaging | September 15, 2021 | By Jennifer Meade
Trends in Breast Ultrasound
The breast ultrasound market is seeing growth, driven largely by the proliferation of recent legislation aimed at...
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While the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) and the introduction of EQUIP (Enhancing Quality Using the Inspection Program) have been successful in standardizing and enhancing mammographic imaging quality, inadequate breast positioning can dramatically impact the ability of radiologists and technicians to quickly and accurately detect breast cancer and potentially malignant lesions in their patients

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Feature | Mammography | September 15, 2021 | By Christopher Austin, M.D. and Randy D. Hicks, M.D., MBA
The Essential Role of Breast Positioning
During mammography, proper breast positioning is critical to the radiologist’s ability to identify potential lesions,...
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Ikonopedia announced that it has added Banner Health, one of the largest non-profit health care systems in the country, as a customer and will implement its entire suite of structured breast imaging reporting and MQSA management tools. The installation is designed to help streamline processes, improve reporting efficiency and optimize facility operations across the Banner Health network.
News | Breast Imaging | September 10, 2021
Ikonopedia to Implement Comprehensive Suite of Breast Imaging Report Generation and MQSA Management Capabilities at Banner Health
September 10, 2021 — Ikonopedia announced that it has added Banner Health, one of the largest non-profit health care...
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According to ARRS’ American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), immediately reading screening mammograms during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic promises a new and improved paradigm—reducing care disparities, while increasing the speed of diagnostic workup.

Flow Chart of Patient Selection

News | Breast Imaging | September 09, 2021
Same-day Mammogram Reading During COVID-19: Reduced Disparity, Faster Diagnosis
September 9, 2021 — According to ARRS’ American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), immediately reading screening...
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Laws designed to help women with increased risk for missed breast cancer diagnoses may help catch the disease earlier, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

Getty Images | AleksandarNakic

News | Breast Imaging | September 09, 2021
Legislation May Help Identify Breast Cancer Earlier in Certain At-risk Women
September 9, 2021 — Laws designed to help women with increased risk for missed breast cancer diagnoses may help catch...
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The researchers say there is currently a lack of good quality evidence to support a policy of replacing human radiologists with artificial intelligence (AI) technology when screening for breast cancer.

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News | Artificial Intelligence | September 02, 2021
Insufficient Evidence That AI Breast Cancer Screening is Accurate Enough to Replace Human Scrutiny
September 2, 2021 — Humans still seem to be better than technology when it comes to the accuracy of spotting possible...
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DenseBreast-info.org (DB-I) announced that the European Society of Radiology (ESR) now links to DB-I website and educational materials as a resource for members about the screening and risk implications of dense breast tissue.
News | Breast Density | August 13, 2021
Breast Density Educational Efforts in Europe Expand
August 13, 2021 — DenseBreast-info.org (DB-I) announced that the European Society of Radiology (ESR) now links to DB-I...
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OWN Your Health and Hologic’s Project Health Equality collaborate to produce culturally competent health information, research and care pathways to serve the unique needs of black women
News | Women's Health | August 12, 2021
Hologic Partners with Oprah Winfrey Network to Combat Health Disparities for Black Women
August 12, 2021 — Oprah Winfrey Network and its first-ever health initiative OWN YOUR HEALTH announced an exclusive...
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artificial intelligence-based computer-aided detection (AI-CAD) can be a practical addition for lowering false-positive findings when performing post-breast conserving therapy (BCT) surveillance mammography

AI-CAD marked axillary lymph node and region in right upper outer quadrant (arrows and thin line outlining both sites) and assigned an abnormality score of 28%.

News | Breast Imaging | August 11, 2021
AI DBT Impact on Mammography Post-breast Therapy
August 11, 2021 — According to an open-access Editor’s Choice article in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR),...
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Right mediolateral oblique (MLO) mammograms for different women with the same breast thickness but varying breast density.

Right mediolateral oblique (MLO) mammograms for different women with the same breast thickness but varying breast density.

News | Breast Imaging | July 30, 2021
Volpara Health Receives FDA Clearance for Next-Generation Breast Density Algorithm and Architecture
July 30, 2021 — Volpara Health, a global health technology software leader providing an integrated breast care platform...
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Volpara Health, a global health technology software leader providing an integrated breast care platform for the delivery of personalized breast care, has signed an agreement with Invitae Corporation, a leader in medical genetics, to bring Invitae's genetic testing services to Volpara's customers in the United States. 
News | Breast Imaging | July 29, 2021
Volpara Collaborates with Invitae Corporation for Genetic Testing Services
July 29, 2021 — Volpara Health, a global health technology software leader providing an integrated breast care platform...
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Volpara now holds 98 granted patents across 27 countries
News | Breast Imaging | July 16, 2021
Volpara Health Grows its Patent Collection
July 16, 2021 — Volpara has recently been granted another patent by the European Patent Office, raising the total...
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According to ARRS’ American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), return to routine screening for BI-RADS 3 lesions on supplemental automated whole-breast US (ABUS) substantially reduces the recall rate, while being unlikely to result in adverse outcome

Normal right mediolateral oblique (A) and craniocarudal (B) view screening mammograms demonstrate density C breasts. Coronal (C), transverse (D), and reconstructed lateral (E) views from supplemental automatic breast ultrasound (ABUS) demonstrates 7 mm circumscribed slightly hypoechoic circumscribed lesion at 11 o’clock position in right breast. Lesion was classified as BI-RADS 3. Patient has undergone yearly mammograms for 4 years following the ABUS examination with no breast cancer diagnosis.

News | Breast Imaging | July 16, 2021
Routine Screening Return for BI-RADS 3 Lesions on Supplemental Automated Whole-Breast Ultrasound
July 16, 2021 —According to ARRS’ American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), return to routine screening for BI-RADS 3...
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The prevalence of genetic mutations associated with breast cancer in Black and white women is the same, according to a new JAMA Oncology study of nearly 30,000 patients led by researchers in the Basser Center for BRCA at the Abramson Cancer Center.

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News | Women's Health | June 15, 2021
Black and White Women Have Same Mutations Linked to Breast Cancer Risk
June 15, 2021 — The prevalence of genetic mutations associated with breast cancer in Black and white women is the same...
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Kathryn A. Gold, M.D., associate clinical professor at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, presented data showing an increase in people diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer in 2020 and 2021, compared to 2019.

Kathryn A. Gold, M.D., associate clinical professor at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, presented data showing an increase in people diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer in 2020 and 2021, compared to 2019.

News | Breast Imaging | June 08, 2021
Increase in Advanced Breast Cancer Diagnoses During COVID-19 Pandemic
June 8, 2021 — Reporting at the 2021 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Kathryn A. Gold, M.D...
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Medical researchers at Flinders University have established a new link between high body mass index (BMI) and breast cancer survival rates — with clinical data revealing worse outcomes for early breast cancer (EBC) patients and improved survival rates in advanced breast cancer (ABC).

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News | Women's Health | May 13, 2021
Decoding the Effect of Body Mass Index on Breast Cancer
May 13, 2021 — Medical researchers at Flinders University have established a new link between high body mass index (BMI...
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Hologic, Inc. launched Project Health Equality (PHE), a unique initiative that strives to address the structural and cultural barriers that prevent Black and Hispanic women in the U.S. from receiving the same quality health care as white women.
News | Women's Health | May 12, 2021
Hologic Launches $20M Initiative to Tackle Racial Disparities in Healthcare
May 12, 2021 — Hologic, Inc. launched Project Health Equality (PHE), a unique initiative that strives to address the...
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News | Artificial Intelligence | May 11, 2021
Breast Cancer AI Company Whiterabbit Receives FDA Clearance for WRDensity
May 11, 2021 — Whiterabbit, an AI technology company focused on early breast cancer detection, today announced the...
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Knowledge gaps regarding breast density among women’s health providers can be addressed with web-based education and may lead to more informed and effective patient-provider communications
News | Breast Density | April 28, 2021
DenseBreast-Info.org Research Published Identifying Important Knowledge Gaps in Breast Density
April 28, 2021 – DenseBreast-info.org (DB-I) announced the results of the study, “Effect of an educational intervention...
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The Imagio Breast Imaging System combines laser light and sound with conventional ultrasound technology to provide fused functional and anatomic images (referred to as optoacoustic/ultrasound or OA/US) in real time, increasing confidence in diagnostic accuracy.

The Imagio Breast Imaging System combines laser light and sound with conventional ultrasound technology to provide fused functional and anatomic images (referred to as optoacoustic/ultrasound or OA/US) in real time, increasing confidence in diagnostic accuracy.

News | Breast Imaging | April 23, 2021
FDA Clears Imagio P200003 Breast Imaging System
April 23, 2021 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Seno Medical's Imagio P200003 Breast Imaging...
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