Breast density

Breast density refers to the composition of breast tissue as seen on a mammogram. Breasts are made up of glandular tissue, connective tissue, and fatty tissue. Dense breasts have more glandular and connective tissue compared to fatty tissue. High breast density can make it harder to detect tumors on mammograms, as both dense tissue and tumors appear white on the images. Women with high breast density may have a higher risk of breast cancer, so understanding and discussing breast density with a healthcare provider is important for personal health and screening decisions.