Increased mammographic density is recognized as an important risk factor for developing breast cancer, however, the underlying mechanism explaining this relationship is unclear. The investigators hypothesize that Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) can more accurately distinguish dense tissue on mammography which is at high risk from dense tissue at low risk by indicating cellular activity in dense tissue as radiotracer uptake (functional density) in the breast. In this pilot study, the investigators want to compare the histological characteristics of breast tissue in patients with who have similar density on mammography but different levels of functional density on MBI.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
25
Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota, United States
proportion of epithelium vs stroma
Time frame: within 1 month of functional density assessment on MBI
Degree of lobular involution
Degree of lobular involution as assessed through qualitative and quantitative measurements will be compared between dense tissue which appears photopenic on MBI and dense tissue which appears functionally active on MBI.
Time frame: within 1 month of functional density assessment on MBI
Ki-67 cellular proliferation index
Degree of cellular proliferation as assessed through Ki-67 index will be compared between dense tissue which appears photopenic on MBI and dense tissue which appears functionally active on MBI.
Time frame: within 1 month of functional density assessment on MBI
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