Supplementary imaging procedures for women with dense breasts undergoing breast cancer screening : a systematic review

Abstract

Whilst mammographic screening reduces deaths from breast cancer, this benefit is not shared equally amongst females. Large scale trials report that mammography was less than 60% sensitive when conducted on women who have high-density breast tissue, compared to the 98% sensitivity in women with fatty breast tissue. Women with extremely dense breast tissue also have 4-6 times more risk of getting cancer than women whose breast tissue are mostly fatty. The number of females with high breast density is estimated to be over 50% for women aged 50 and under, and over 30% for women who are over the age of 50.