Mammograms are low-dose x-rays that expose the breasts to a small amount of radiation.* Mammograms have been used to screen for breast cancer since the 1980s. There are three different types of mammograms:

• Film: 2-Dimensional, known as “analog” has been nearly eliminated in the U.S.A.,  but is still in use in Europe.
• Digital, 2-Dimensional: known as “Full Field Digital Mammogram” (FFDM). Nearly all facilities in the United States have digital mammography.
• Digital, 3D/tomosynthesis: also referred to as “3-Dimensional” or “tomo.” It is a newer technology that is used in over half of the facilities in the United States.

How are a 2D and 3D digital mammogram different?

To explain the difference, think of a 2D mammogram like a photograph of a book. The words on each page of the book would have their letters jumbled on top of the words from all the other pages, so it would be very difficult to read any particular word. Any given “word” could be a small mass due to cancer.

Now, to understand a 3D mammogram, imagine the cover and pages of the book are see-through. The 3D mammogram captures images at different angles, which allows thin “slice” images to be made by the computer. These images can then be viewed one at a time–similar to turning pages of a book and being able to read the words on each page.

A 2D mammogram finds about 5 cancers for every 1,000 women who have a mammogram. Another 1-2 cancers will be found per 1,000 women when 3D/tomosynthesis is used. With 3D mammograms, you are also less likely to be called back for more testing. However, in women with extremely dense breasts, studies have shown mixed results as to whether 3D mammograms find more cancers than 2D mammograms.

*The radiation exposure from a mammogram is small and is too low to cause any harm to the breasts.

To learn more about mammograms, including how they work, benefits and things to consider, click here.

Learn More:

• 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
• Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
• Patient Risk Checklist (print)
• Patient Questions and Answers

Yes. A “negative,” “benign,” or “normal” mammogram report does not mean cancer is not there. The denser the breast, the more likely it is that a cancer will not show on a mammogram.

Category of Breast Density	Percent of Cancers That Will Not Show on a Mammogram
Extremely dense	40%
Heterogeneously dense	25%
Scattered fibroglandular	15%
Fatty breasts	10% © DenseBreast-info.org Rev. March 2022

Cancer can still be there even if the mammogram report is “normal.” You may want to have an additional screening test after your mammogram to help find cancer. These tests might include one of the following: Ultrasound, MRI, contrast-enhanced mammography or molecular breast imaging (MBI). If your mammogram shows dense breasts, talk with your health care provider about whether you should have an additional screening test after your mammogram.

For more information, see Q+A, “What are screening options after my mammogram?”

Learn More:

• 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
• Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
• Patient Risk Checklist (print)
• Patient Questions and Answers

Yes. Though both 2D and 3D mammograms can miss cancers in dense breasts, mammograms are still helpful. Some cancers will only be seen on a mammogram (and won’t be seen on Ultrasound or possibly even on MRI).

For example, even in dense breasts, mammograms will show calcifications (white specks like salt crystals, see Figure below), which are seen better on mammograms than on Ultrasound. About half of all breast cancers have calcifications.  However, most calcifications seen on a mammogram are not due to cancer.

Many studies have shown that finding early stage cancers on a mammogram reduces deaths from breast cancer.

Mammograms Show About Half of Early Breast Cancers Even in Dense Breasts
This mammogram of a woman with dense breasts shows a group of calcifications (white specks that are like salt crystals within the red ovals). This patient was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (“invasive” means it has spread to surrounding breast tissue).

Learn More:

• 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
• Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
• Patient Risk Checklist (print)
• Patient Questions and Answers

For women with dense breasts, an additional breast screening test after a mammogram may find cancer not seen on their mammogram alone.

Talk with your doctor or health provider about which one of these tests is right for you.

Cancer Detection by Screening Tests

If 1,000 Women with Dense Breasts are Screened With:	Number of Women Found to Have Cancer is About:
Mammogram ONLY
2D mammogram alone	5
3D mammogram (tomosynthesis)	6
2D Mammogram PLUS Common Breast Screening Tests
Ultrasound (sonogram)	8
Contrast-enhanced MRI	21
2D Mammogram PLUS Other Breast Screening Tests
Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI)	13
Contrast-enhanced mammogram (CEM)	15 © DenseBreast-info.org Rev. August 2022

There are several things to consider when making a choice about an additional screening test. Additional screening may find cancers missed on your mammogram. But, that testing may also find things that need even further testing  – and that turn out not to be cancer (known as a false positive).

• Ultrasound is the most common additional test used after a mammogram. Ultrasound uses sound waves and does not involve radiation or an injection into your vein. Gentle pressure is applied to the breasts and rarely causes discomfort. An ultrasound screening takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) involves injection of a gadolinium contrast solution into your vein that may feel a little cold while it is injected. You lie on your stomach and your breasts fit into two openings. The contrast-enhanced MRI is done in the tunnel of a large magnet. The magnet makes loud noises while generating images. Contrast-enhanced MRI does not use radiation and takes from 10 to 25 minutes.
• Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) involves injection of a radioactive material into your vein. About 5 minutes after the injection, each breast is placed between two detectors, similar to a mammogram but with less pressure. An MBI test takes at least 40 minutes. MBI is not yet widely available.
• Contrast-enhanced mammogram (CEM) requires injection of iodine-based contrast into your vein. This is the same contrast used in CT scans. It makes you feel warm all over and you may even feel like you might pee on yourself. After about 2½ minutes, you will have a mammogram. A CEM test takes about 10 minutes. CEM is not yet widely available.

For more information, see Q+A #26: “What are other breast screening tests after my mammogram?” here.

Learn More:

• 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
• Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
• Patient Risk Checklist (print)
• Patient Questions and Answers

You should not ignore a lump or any change in your breasts just because your recent mammogram was “normal.” This is especially important if your breasts are dense. While lumps are often cysts or areas of normal tissue, a lump may be cancer that is hidden within dense breast tissue on a mammogram.  If you have a lump, you should talk to your health care provider and have a “diagnostic” breast imaging appointment where often an Ultrasound will be performed.

A “normal,” “negative,” or “benign” screening mammogram report does not necessarily mean there is no cancer.

Learn More:

• 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
• Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
• Patient Risk Checklist (print)
• Patient Questions and Answers

No. Ultrasound is not a replacement or substitute for mammography. Some breast cancers are only detected by 2D or 3D/tomosynthesis mammography, even in dense breasts.

Learn More:

• 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
• Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
• Patient Risk Checklist (print)
• Patient Questions and Answers

Maybe not. Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to get a second breast cancer. Some of these cancers are hard to see on a mammogram. In women who have had breast cancer, MRI can help find cancers not seen on a mammogram.

You should talk to your health care provider about having an annual MRI in addition to a 2D/3D mammogram if:     

• You were diagnosed with breast cancer by age 50
• If you have a history of breast cancer and dense breasts
• You are younger than 70-75

If MRI cannot be performed, Ultrasound can be used, but it does not find as many cancers as MRI. If you have a screening MRI, a screening Ultrasound is not needed.

A newer breast imaging tool is contrast-enhanced mammography. This may be an option instead of an MRI. It does show more cancers than Ultrasound, but it is not yet widely available.

If you have had both breasts removed (double mastectomy) and are otherwise in good health, mammograms or other breast imaging tests are not recommended unless there is a lump or other change in the area of surgery or your underarm.

For more information, see Q+A “If mammograms miss some cancers in dense breasts, should I still have a mammogram?”

Learn More:

• 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
• Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
• Patient Risk Checklist (print)
• Patient Questions and Answers

Most medical societies in the U.S.A., recommend women begin getting mammograms by  age 40.*  If you live in Europe, recommendations vary by country; click here to learn more.

The goal of mammogram screenings is to find breast cancer EARLY, when it is easier to treat and most survivable.

Though breast cancer is more common as women get older, it is important to begin mammogram screenings by age 40 because:

• Breast cancer is the number one cause of death in women aged 35 to 54 years.
• Beginning by age 40 lowers the chance of dying from breast cancer.
• Beginning by age 40 is especially important for Asian, Hispanic or Black women as they are more often diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age.
• More than half of women in their 40s have dense breasts (heterogeneously dense or extremely dense). Dense breasts increase the risk of developing breast cancer and can hide cancer on a mammogram. Women with dense breasts should talk to their health care provider about additional screening after their mammogram.

* Women at “high risk” for breast cancer (for example, those who have a disease-causing genetic mutation such as BRCA1 or BRCA2), should begin getting mammograms even younger – at least by age 30 — and also get an MRI every year.

Learn More:

• 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
• Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
• Patient Risk Checklist (print)
• Patient Questions and Answers

About 1 in every 10 women who have a screening mammogram will be called back or “recalled” for extra views or screening tests to look at an area of the breast more closely. THIS IS EXPECTED.

• It is much more common for women to be recalled after their very first mammogram. This is because there is no prior mammogram for comparison to know what is normal for your breasts.
• Among women called back, most (95%) do not have cancer. These are considered false positives or “false alarms.”

Usually, extra mammogram pictures or an ultrasound can clear up a question raised on a mammogram.

About 1 in 5 women called back for additional testing will need a needle biopsy. This is a minor in-office procedure to take a very small sample of breast tissue for testing.

Learn More:

• 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
• Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
• Patient Risk Checklist (print)
• Patient Questions and Answers

Yes. In the United States, a breast imaging center where you get your mammogram must be approved (certified) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Click here for the list of breast centers approved by the FDA.

An imaging center may receive further certifications through the American College of Radiology (ACR). The ACR’s program designates Breast Imaging Centers of Excellence^® based on personnel, policies, equipment, image quality and patient care. Centers of Excellence have ACR certification for stereotactic breast biopsy, ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, and breast MRI. Click here for a list of ACR Breast Imaging Centers of Excellence.

Learn More:

• 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
• Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
• Patient Risk Checklist (print)
• Patient Questions and Answers