In the context of breast screening, what does 2D mammography primarily depend on?

In the context of breast screening, 2D mammography primarily depends on the glandularity of breast tissue. This is because the composition of breast tissue—specifically the ratio of fatty tissue to glandular (fibroglandular) tissue—significantly influences how well tumors can be visualized in a mammogram.

Glandular tissue appears more dense on a mammogram, which can obscure the visibility of abnormalities or masses, making detection more challenging, particularly in denser breasts. Therefore, understanding the glandularity is crucial for interpreting mammograms and assessing cancer risk.

While other factors like age, digital imaging techniques, and specific cancer types are relevant in the broader context of mammography and breast health, they do not specifically define the characteristics that 2D mammography relies on for effective screening and diagnosis. This highlights the importance of breast tissue composition in the effectiveness of 2D mammography in detecting breast cancer.