Since 1995 - Non Profit Healthcare Advice

Fibroglandular density

08/29/2006

Question:

I am 33 yrs old women with no children, fighting infertility.

my mammogram report showed finding that fibroglandular density is present in a mildly assymmetric distribution.this is likely to be a benign finding.No dominant masses or abnormally clustered microcalcifications.there is no evidence of architectural distortion,skin thickening or nipple retraction.

BI-RADS: 2

Finding: BENIGN FINDING.

My question is it cancer?is it fibrocystic or fibroadenoma? i saw on one site that fibroglandular density might have increase chances for breast cancer.is it true.what is fibroglandular density?

would really appreciate if u clear my doubts.thanks

Answer:

Fibroglandular tissue is normal breast tissue for a young person like yourself.  It exists because of your monthly hormonal cycling.  It will become replaced with fatty tissue when you go through menopause.  It does not increase your risk of breast cancer. 

If a person has breast cancer, the cancer is harder to see on a mammogram when fibroglandular tissue is also present because both are white on this xray (the cancer is a white object on mammogram and it is hard to see on the white background of fibroglandular tissue). 

The radiologist has indicated that you have benign fibroglandular tissue on mammogram, not cancer.

For more information:

Go to the Breast Cancer health topic.