Breast tissue density at issue.

• Position: Hendra's Law - Brief article

Mammograms are one of the most effective tools in detecting breast cancer. In women with dense or nonfatty tissue, however, detection can be difficult and additional screening may be needed.

One Dallas, Texas, woman's personal battle with breast cancer was the inspiration for Hendra's Law--a state law signed into effect June 17, 2011, that requires women to be informed about their breast tissue's density and the limitations of mammography in certain cases.

Roshni Rao was Hendra Salmeron's breast surgeon. His work helped drive passage of the law. "Breast tissue that has minimal or no fat may appear white, or dense, on a mammogram. This sometimes makes it difficult to identify cancers, which also typically appear as small white spots," explains Rao.

Radiologists use a grading system to describe the density of breast tissue based on the amount of fat (nondense) and connective (dense) tissue. Research is ongoing as to why some women have denser breast tissue but, gradually, as females age, their breast tissue becomes more fatty.

"Many factors contribute to a woman's...