Breast Density

Know your body. Understand your options at Women’s Imaging Center.

Breast density is common. Almost half of all women have varying degrees of dense breast tissue. It simply means you have a higher ratio of glandular to fatty tissue.

However, early detection with mammography can be a challenge for women with dense breasts. Glandular tissue appears white on a mammogram, but so does cancer. A small tumor is easier to spot on the darker background of a fatty breast mammogram but more difficult on the white background of a glandular or fibrous breast mammogram. Click here to take a breast cancer risk assessment »

Mammography is the gold standard for breast screening, and eventually, a mammogram would find these cancers when they grow larger over time. However, since doctors and women’s health advocates universally agree that earlier detection is the key to survival, women with dense breasts require a supplemental screening option at Women’s Imaging Center in Lakeland, Florida, such as Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound (ABUS).

What is a dense breast?

Breast tissue is made up of varying mixtures of fatty tissues, glandular components, lymphatics and blood vessels.

Breast tissue is categorized by mammography in four classifications:

A.
Predominantly Fat

B.
Fat With Some Fibroglandular Densities

C.
Heterogeneously Dense

D.
Extremely Dense

In case you’re wondering, you can’t know that you have dense breasts just by how they feel; breast density must be measured during a mammogram. If you have dense breasts, you will be notified on your mammogram report.

To schedule your mammogram and learn about your breast density, please call Women’s Imaging Center at (863) 688-2334. We see patients from all over Central Florida including Lakeland, Winston, Polk City, Auburndale, Kissimmee, and surrounding communities.

Why haven’t I heard of breast density before?

Until recently, most women were unaware of the issue of breast density. Two things have happened in recent years to create greater awareness of this issue. First, advances in technology have made supplemental screening practical and effective. Second, the tireless work of breast density advocates and their systematic effort to pass legislation in every state to require that women be informed of their breast density status. In fact, Florida’s breast density law took effect in July, 2018.

Women’s Imaging Center has taken a proactive stance on this issue, leading the way in notifying and educating women who may be at risk, as well as providing supplemental forms of screening for breast cancer detection.

Why is it important to be ACR accredited?

ACR accreditation programs provide a high level of confidence for patients, referring physicians, and managed care organizations that only the highest quality care is being provided by accredited facilities. The Women’s Imaging Center in Lakeland, Florida is ACR Accredited. The Women’s Imaging Center is also a Designated Breast Center of Excellence which means we are fully accredited in mammography, breast ultrasound, breast ultrasound-guided breast biopsy and stereotactic breast biopsy.

Automated Whole Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) – An excellent supplemental screening option for women with dense breasts

Contact Women’s Imaging Center

For questions about breast density and your options if you do have dense breasts, ask your physician or call us at 863-688-2334. Women’s Imaging Center is a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence and services women throughout Central Florida at our Lakeland, Florida location.

Thinking about why I need to know if my breasts are dense - Women's Imaging Center Lakeland FL

Learn more about supplemental screening option for women with dense breasts

Breast Density Patient Brochure

BREAST CANCER RISK ASSESSMENT