Volumetric Breast Density Estimation on Digitized Mammograms — A Preliminary Clinical Study

We have developed a method to perform quantitative volumetric analysis of mammographic density (VBD) from digitized screen-film mammograms. The method is being tested on two different ethnic groups of women aged 50 years or older, having greatly different risks of breast cancer. The average VBD in the lower risk group of women was found to be significantly lower than that in the higher risk group. The average entrance exposure (mR) for the lower risk group was also found to be much lower, despite similar average compressed breast thickness obtained for the two groups of women.