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How Does Breast Tissue Affect Mammogram Results?In mammography, changes in breast tissue can make it difficult to distinguish between normal glandular tissue and tumors.In young women breasts are composed of firm glandular tissue. In mammography, this density appears white. Cancerous tumors also appear as white densities on a mammogram so finding a cancer in a dense breast is similar to finding one cloud in a cloudy sky. As women age, most breast density decreases and tissue becomes fattier. Fatty tissue appears dark on a mammogram, making it easier to see the white areas of potential tumors. Breast density is directly related to the level of estrogen in the body. During menopause, estrogen levels drop causing the tissues comprising the breast tissue to shrink and leaving behind more fatty tissue. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replaces lost estrogen. For women on HRT, breast tissue can remain dense and therefore difficult to evaluate. This is a concern due to the fact that HRT occurs at an age when women's risk of breast cancer is significantly higher. When young women find lumps in their breasts, they are usually benign cysts, or clumps of normal glandular tissue. However, patients should report all lumps they find during self-examination and those that get bigger will often require further evaluation to rule out cancer. Common methods for evaluation start with additional imaging techniques and then proceed to biopsy if necessary. |
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