The FDA requires that mammography reports include information on breast density

On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a new requirement for all mammography facilities in the country to inform patients about the density of their breast tissues. This is because breast density can make it harder to detect tumors through mammograms, which rely on X-rays passing through breast tissues to identify and locate tumors.

Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer among women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and mammograms remain the best tool for screening and detecting it. However, patients with dense breasts, which is a normal and common finding in mammograms, may require further evaluation or repeat mammograms.

The new rules aim to ensure that patients receive information about the potential need for additional testing or repeat mammograms. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick praised the updated regulations, stating that “increasing early detection is the best way to improve outcomes, and this new standard does just that.”

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