title: [Mammographic evaluation of dense breasts: techniques and limits].
abstract: Breast density is a radiological concept based on the proportion of radiopaque glandular tissue relative to radiolucent fatty tissue. Mammographic evaluation of dense breasts is more difficult, related to technical difficulties, with decreased rates for detection and characterization of breast lesions, resulting in reduced sensitivity with increased number of interval cancers at routine follow-up when compared to radiolucent breasts. We will review the definition of dense breasts and their frequency, especially their relationship with the age of patients. We will discuss the current technical problems and the impact of breast density on the efficacy of conventional mammography. We will discuss the value of digital mammography, the role of computer assisted diagnosis (CAD) systems and tomosynthesis in the evaluation of dense breasts.
authors.affiliation: Centre René Huguenin, Service de radiodiagnostic, 35 rue Dailly, 92210 Saint-Cloud, France. p.cherel@stcloud-huguenin.org
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chérel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hagay
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Benaim
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Maulmont
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Engerand
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Talma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity