DENSE BREASTS SHOULDN’T STAND IN THE WAY OF ACCURATE CANCER DETECTION

Up to 20% of breast cancers are missed by standard 2D mammography, and that percentage can approach 40-50% in women with dense breast tissue. A significant challenge in detecting anomalies in screening mammography is that dense tissue – like cancerous lesions – appear white. As a result, patients with dense breast tissue are at greater risk of a missed cancer diagnosis.

Women often do not realize they have dense breast tissue, which has led several states (including New York and California) to pass legislation that requires patients to be informed of their breast density.