February 20, 2014 — The fifth edition of Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) Atlas issued by the American College of Radiology (ACR) included changes in breast density reporting categories. Volpara Solutions, producers of VolparaDensity software, said this is a step toward the provision of accurate breast density measurements to women by the renewed emphasis on volumetric assessments.
“We commend the ACR for proactively working to improve breast density assessment, which is critical to the identification of women who may benefit from supplemental imaging to improve the early detection of cancer,” said Ralph Highnam, Ph.D., CEO of Volpara Solutions. “First, through the repeated assertion that breast composition measurement is about the volume of attenuating tissue in the breast, and second, by removing the old area-based percentage thresholds which have been proven to be subjective and imprecise. Not only does this help clarify what breast density assessment should be, but the fifth edition also helps distinguish density from other BI-RADs assessments.”
The new breast composition categories are:
- The breasts are almost entirely fatty
- There are scattered areas of fibroglandular density
- The breasts are heterogeneously dense, which may obscure small masses
- The breasts are extremely dense, which lowers the sensitivity of mammography
Volpara software generates an objective, automatic measurement of volumetric breast density and a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared BI-RADS breast density category. The technology is cleared by the FDA, HealthCanada, the TGA and has CE marking. Volpara supports most of the major digital mammography systems, can be displayed on digital mammography and PACS workstations and be integrated into mammography reporting systems.
For more information: volparasolutions.com
March 06, 2026 
