Donna Plecha, MD: What PCPs Need to Know About the Dense Breast Notification Law

Since September 2024, federal law requires all mammography facilities to notify patients about their breast density—but what should primary care physicians do with that information?

In the video above, nationally recognized breast imaging expert Donna M. Plecha, MD, breaks down exactly which patients with dense breasts need supplemental screening and why. Plecha explains the critical distinction between the four breast density categories, clarifies when MRI is recommended versus considered, and introduces an emerging screening tool that's changing the game: abbreviated MRI.

The data is compelling. While 3D mammography detects 7-9 cancers per 1000 women screened, MRI identifies 17-25 cancers per 1000—more than double the detection rate. And with abbreviated MRI protocols reducing scan time from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes, this powerful screening tool is becoming more accessible and affordable for patients.