“In women with very dense breasts, mammography will miss cancer 58% of the time,” says Thomas Kolb, M.D., a breast cancer radiologist.

Dense breasts contain more glands, ducts, and connective tissue than fat. Breasts tend to be denser during a woman’s reproductive years. Density makes it harder to detect suspicious lumps on a mammogram; that’s because glandular tissue appears white on a mammogram, just like a mass can.

Fortunately, there are new tools that can give a more precise diagnosis, especially if you have dense breasts or you’re at higher risk for breast cancer because of your personal or family health history.

Here are three that may give you a clearer picture of your breast health — and could possibly save your life.

Tomosynthesis

The latest in breast cancer detection technology, tomosynthesis, also known as 3D mammogram, is a digital mammogram that takes images of the breast in thin slices from multiple angles.

Tomosynthesis takes an arc of pictures through each breast, in 5-millimeter slices, which are then reconstructed into a three-dimensional image.

It allows radiologists to see through the breast tissue so they can more easily distinguish a true mass from overlapping structures that can hide or mimic cancer, such as ligaments or glandular tissue.

Tomosynthesis can be used for screening and diagnostic mammograms.

Pros/cons: Compared to a digital (2D) mammogram, tomosynthesis is more precise. Studies show that three more women per thousand will receive a cancer diagnosis with tomosynthesis, compared to a digital mammogram.

Also, women with dense breasts who undergo tomosynthesis are 40% less likely to be called back for additional imaging.

Should you ask for it? Screening tomosynthesis is in order if you have dense breasts or you’re at average or intermediate risk for breast cancer.
 

To determine your lifetime breast cancer risk, visit BrightPink.org and take the risk-assessment quiz. Depending on your answers, you’ll end up in one of three categories: high risk, intermediate risk, or average risk.

High risk is defined as a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 20% or more; intermediate risk is a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 15-20% percent, and average risk is anything under 15%.

Automated Breast Ultrasound

During this test, an automated ultrasound machine, which uses a computer program, takes ultrasound images of breast tissue. The images are recorded and given to a radiologist who can interpret them.

Doctors currently use handheld ultrasound devices to hunt for breast tumors in some patients. The labor-intensive process can skip some tumors. Automated breast ultrasound eliminates the need for an ultrasound technologist so there’s less risk of missing a lesion.

Pros/cons: Automated breast ultrasound can help detect breast cancer. Breast cancer detection doubled from 23 to 46 in 6,425 screening studies using automated breast ultrasound with mammography, resulting in a significant cancer-detection improvement. Some insurance providers don’t cover the test yet, so check your policy.

Should You Ask for It? Ask for automated breast ultrasound in addition to a screening mammogram if you have extremely dense breast tissue (in the 75% or greater range).

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

This tool employs magnetic and radio waves instead of X-rays to create high-definition cross-sectional images of breast tissue.

For the test itself, the patient is injected with safe, nonradioactive contrasting salt solution in the arm, then lies face down on a table with both breasts positioned into cushioned coils that contain signal receivers. The entire bed is then sent through a tube-like magnet.

In areas where there might be cancer, the contrasting agent pools and is illuminated on computer-generated images.

Pros/cons: MRI has been shown to find 2-6% more cancers than mammogram alone. In 1,000 women, studies show MRI will find twice as many cancers, compared to 3-D mammogram alone.

Should You Ask for It? If you’re at high risk for breast cancer (in the 20% category or more), you automatically qualify for supplemental screening with MRI.

Insurance carriers will cover the cost of this sensitive but expensive test. If you’re not a high risk but you have extremely dense breasts, consider paying out of pocket for this test. Screening breast MRI costs $600 to $700.

“Even if you have as little as a 2% risk of breast cancer over the next five years, talk to your doctor about adding MRI,” says Wendie Berg, M.D., Ph.D., a breast imaging consultant.

MRI breast-imaging centers are springing up across the country, but it’s important to seek out a facility that has MRI-guided biopsy capability, so a tissue sample can be retrieved for diagnosis at the time of your scan if a questionable mass is spotted.

Do You Have Dense Breasts?

Breast density depends in part on hormonal status, which is why premenopausal women are more like to have dense breasts.

Genetics also plays a part. If your mom had dense breasts, you’re more likely to have them. But only a mammogram can make that determination.

In some states, radiologists are required by law to tell you, in the letter you receive about your mammogram results, whether you have dense breasts. If your state doesn’t require that information, simply ask your doctor if your mammogram results indicate whether you have dense breasts.

The letter about breast density won’t tell you the percent of breast density, which can be helpful for knowing which supplemental tests to push for, such as MRI.

To find out the percentage of breast density, ask your doctor for a copy of the radiology report he/she received. You have a right to it.

When to Get a Mammogram

The American Cancer Society recommends that women at average risk between age 40 and 44 have the option to start with a screening mammogram every year.

Women 45 to 54 should get a mammogram yearly. Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year or choose to continue yearly mammography.

If you’re at high or intermediate risk, your doctor may advise starting mammography before age 40.