Mammogram Reports Must Now Specify Breast Density

Beginning today, the FDA requires all mammography facilities to tell patients whether they have dense breast tissue when conveying screening results. People with dense breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer, and dense breast tissue makes it more difficult for radiologists to spot cancer on mammograms. There is no agreement as to what additional tests, if any, patients should receive if they have dense tissue, but they should talk with a health care provider about their healthy history and any risk factors, such as having relatives with breast cancer, to decide upon next steps. Annual mammograms should continue even if patients undergo additional imaging procedures, according to the American Cancer Society.