What are the screening recommendations for dense breasts?

Depending on the patient’s age, risk level (for further explanation see section on Risk Assessment Tools) breast density, and available imaging modalities, additional screening tools, such as MRI, contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM), or ultrasound may be recommended in addition to mammography. In some centers, molecular breast imaging (MBI) may be an option. Each of these modalities improves cancer detection in dense tissue compared to standard mammography/tomosynthesis alone (see Table: Summary of Cancer Detection Rates by Screening Method). Note: CEM is not yet FDA-approved for screening.

For evidence-based screening recommendations designed to optimize cancer detection in individuals in different risk categories, including dense breasts, see our Screening Decision Support Tool. For a comparison of screening guidelines for individuals determined to be at high/increased risk, see our High/Increased-Risk Screening Guidelines page. For a comparison of screening guidelines for individuals with dense breasts and no other risk factors, see our and Dense Breast Screening Guidelines page.