Dense breast tissue
Dense Breast Tissue
Dense breast tissue refers to the appearance of breast tissue on a mammogram. It is a common and normal finding but can make it harder to detect cancer.
Pronunciation
Dense: /dɛns/ Breast: /brɛst/ Tissue: /ˈtɪʃuː/
Etymology
The term "dense" comes from the Latin densus, meaning "thick". "Breast" comes from the Old English brēost, meaning "chest". "Tissue" comes from the French tissu, meaning "a weave" or "something woven".
Definition
Dense breast tissue is characterized by having less fat and more connective tissue and glandular tissue. On a mammogram, dense breast tissue appears white, the same color as cancer, making it difficult to see the cancer.
Related Terms
- Mammogram: An X-ray picture of the breast used to check for breast cancer.
- Connective tissue: Tissue that supports, binds, or separates more specialized tissues and organs of the body.
- Glandular tissue: Tissue in the body that is involved in producing and releasing substances.
Risk Factors
Dense breast tissue can be influenced by various factors such as age, menopausal status, certain medications, and genetics. Women with dense breast tissue have a higher risk of breast cancer compared to women with less dense breast tissue.
Diagnosis
The only way to determine if a woman has dense breast tissue is through a mammogram. The radiologist who analyzes your mammogram determines the ratio of non-dense tissue to dense tissue and assigns a level of breast density.
Treatment and Management
There is no specific treatment for dense breast tissue. However, if you have dense breasts, you and your doctor may decide that additional screening methods are right for you based on your risk. Your doctor may recommend additional or more frequent mammograms, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dense breast tissue
- Wikipedia's article - Dense breast tissue
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