Understanding Scattered Density on a Mammogram: What It Means

"Scattered density" is a term used to describe findings on a mammogram. It is one of several terms that can be used in a standardized way so physicians understand exactly what a radiologist means when he reads a mammography report.

History

• The BI-RADS system was developed so there would be a standard way to describe findings on mammography. The system was developed by the American College of Radiology with cooperation from other governmental and private groups in the radiology field.

Categories

• When a radiologist reads a mammogram, she categorizes the density of the breast in the mammogram according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) classification. The four classifications are: fatty, scattered density, heterogeneously dense, and extremely dense.

Definition

• If breasts are described as having scattered densities, this means there are parts of the breasts that are more dense than others.

Consequences

• Scattered densities can sometimes hide a lesion in the breast on mammography. This is the appropriate description of a breast that is 25 to 50 percent glandular.

Frequency

• The December 2006 issue of "Cancer Causes &Control" cited a study that said of all four breast types, those with scattered density were the most common. Forty-five percent of the women tested had scattered density reported on their mammograms.