Boren W L, Hunter T B, Bjelland J C, Hunt K R
University of Arizona, Department of Radiology, Tucson 85724.
Invest Radiol. 1990 Sep;25(9):1010-1. doi: 10.1097/00004424-199009000-00011.
Palpable breast consistency on physical examination was compared with the breast density on mammography for 909 consecutive patients. One of two experienced nurse practitioners palpated each patient's breasts and assigned a consistency value of 1 (little palpable breast consistency) to 4 (maximal palpable breast consistency). Seven mammographers rated the breast density on mammography as either fatty, mild, moderate, or marked parenchymal density for each breast. A low statistical correlation between the two parameters was shown. Thirty-seven percent of markedly dense breasts on mammography was rated only 1 or 2 on palpation. Thus, breast consistency judged by palpation cannot be directly correlated with the density shown on mammography and cannot be used to predict optimal radiographic technique.
