A region of interest in the image is determined and for each pixel in each location (x,y) in that region of interest a value h.sub.int(x,y) is computed representing the amount of dense tissue below said pixel as h int ( x , y ) = 2 .mu. fat ( E ) - .mu. int ( E ) ( Log ( p ( x , y ) ) - Log ( p fat ) ) ##EQU00001## wherein p(x,y) represents the pixel value of a pixel at location (x,y) in said digital mammographic image, p.sub.fat is a reference fat pixel value, .mu..sub.fat,.mu..sub.int are the linear attenuation coefficients of fat tissue and dense tissue and E is the mono-energetic energy value of the x-ray source at image recording, whereby E and p.sub.fat are derived from said digital mammographic image representation.