These recommendations aim to provide advice about the most suitable test for women with high breast density attending a screening programme.

These new recommendations have been issued during the latest Guidelines Development Group meeting, considering available evidence until 3 August 2021. They include a more detailed description of the target population as compared to previous recommendations.

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT)

In the context of an organised screening programme, the ECIBC's Guidelines Development Group (GDG) suggests:

  • not implementing tailored screening with both DBT and digital mammography for women with high mammographic breast density detected for the first time with digital mammography
    (conditional recommendation, very low certainty of the evidence)
  • using DBT for women with high mammographic breast density detected in previous screening exams
    (conditional recommendation, very low certainty of the evidence)
Recommendation details

Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound

In the context of an organised screening programme, for asymptomatic women with high mammographic breast density, the ECIBC's Guidelines Development Group (GDG) suggests:

  • not implementing tailored screening with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
    (conditional recommendation, very low certainty of the evidence)
  • not implementing tailored screening with automated breast ultrasound system (ABUS)
    (conditional recommendation, very low certainty of the evidence)
  • not implementing tailored screening with hand-held ultrasound (HHUS)
    (conditional recommendation, low certainty of the evidence)
Recommendation details