Relationship Between 18F-FDG Uptake and Breast Density in Women with Normal Breast Tissue

Breast density affects the mammographic detectability of breast cancer. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of breast density on the 18F-FDG uptake of normal breast tissue. Meth-ods: The study population consisted of 45 women (median age, 54 y; age range, 42–77 y). All underwent whole-body 18F-FDG PET for various indications other than breast cancer, and all underwent mammography within a mean of 6.6 4.9 mo of PET. On the basis of mammographic findings, breasts were categorized as extremely dense, heterogeneously dense, pri-marily fatty, or entirely fatty. Regions of interest were drawn on every PET image in which breast tissue was visualized. Average and peak standardized uptake values (SUVs) were calculated for the left and right breasts. Results: Mammography showed that 20 of the 45 women had heterogeneously dense breasts, 1 had extremely dense breasts, 20 had primarily fatty breasts, an