Search Results (5)

Mammographic breast density (MBD) is a strong independent risk factor for breast cancer (BC). We investigated the association between volumetric MBD measures, their changes over time, and BC risk in a cohort of women participating in the FEDRA (Florence-EPIC Digital mammographic density and breast cancer Risk Assessment) study. The study was carried out among 6148 women with repeated MBD measures from full-field digital mammograms and repeated information on lifestyle habits, reproductive history, and anthropometry. The association between MBD measures (modeled as time-dependent covariates), their relative annual changes, and BC risk were evaluated by adjusted Cox models. During an average of 7.8 years of follow-up, 262 BC cases were identified. BC risk was directly associated with standard deviation increments of volumetric percent density (VPD, HR 1.37, 95%CI 1.22–1.54) and dense volume (DV, HR 1.29, 95%CI 1.18–1.41). An inverse association emerged with non-dense volume (NDV, HR 0.82, 95%CI 0.69–0.98). No significant associations emerged between annual changes in VPD, DV, NDV, and BC risk. Higher values of MBD measures, modeled as time-dependent covariates, were positively associated with increased BC risk, while an inverse association was evident for increasing NDV. No effect of annual changes in MBD emerged. Full article

Digital mammography has become a first-line diagnostic tool for clinical breast cancer screening due to its high sensitivity and specificity. Mammographic compression force is closely associated with image quality and patient comfort. Therefore, optimizing breast compression parameters is essential. Subjects were recruited for digital mammography and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within a month. Breast MRI images were used to calculate breast volume and volumetric breast density (VBD) and construct finite element models. Finite element analysis was performed to simulate breast compression. Simulated compressed breast thickness (CBT) was compared with clinical CBT and the relationships between compression force, CBT, breast volume, and VBD were established. Simulated CBT had a good linear correlation with the clinical CBT (R² = 0.9433) at the clinical compression force. At 10, 12, 14, and 16 daN, the mean simulated CBT of the breast models was 5.67, 5.13, 4.66, and 4.26 cm, respectively. Simulated CBT was positively correlated with breast volume (r > 0.868) and negatively correlated with VBD (r < –0.338). The results of this study provides a subject-specific and evidence-based suggestion of mammographic compression force for radiographers considering image quality and patient comfort. Full article

Studies have investigated the associations of coffee and tea with mammographic breast density (MBD) in premenopausal women with inconsistent results. We analyzed data from 375 premenopausal women who attended a screening mammogram at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO in 2016, and stratified the analyses by race (non-Hispanic White (NHW) vs. Black/African American). Participants self-reported the number of servings of coffee, caffeinated tea, and decaffeinated tea they consumed. Volpara software was used to determine volumetric percent density (VPD), dense volume (DV), and non-dense volume (NDV). We used generalized linear regression models to quantify the associations of coffee and tea intake with MBD measures. Coffee: ≥1 time/day (β = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.93–1.21; p-trend = 0.61) and caffeinated tea: ≥1 time/day (β = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.88–1.17; p-trend = 0.61) were not associated with VPD. Decaffeinated tea (≥1 time/week) was positively associated with VPD in NHW women (β = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.06–1.39) but not in African American women (β = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.73–1.17; p-interaction = 0.02). Coffee (≥1 time/day) was positively associated with DV in African American women (β = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.11–2.07) but not in NHW women (β = 1.10; 95% CI = 0.95–1.29; p-interaction = 0.02). Our findings do not support associations of coffee and caffeinated tea intake with VPD in premenopausal women. Positive associations of decaffeinated tea with VPD, with suggestions of effect modification by race, require confirmation in larger studies with diverse study populations. Full article

Mammographic breast density (MBD) is an important imaging biomarker of breast cancer risk, but it has been suggested that increased MBD is not a genuine finding once corrected for age and body mass index (BMI). This study examined the association of various factors, including both residing in and working in the urban setting, with MBD. Questionnaires were completed by 1144 women attending for mammography at the London Breast Institute in 2012–2013. Breast density was assessed with an automated volumetric breast density measurement system (Volpara) and compared with subjective radiologist assessment. Multivariable linear regression was used to model the relationship between MBD and residence in the urban setting as well as working in the urban setting, adjusting for both age and BMI and other menstrual, reproductive, and lifestyle factors. Urban residence was significantly associated with an increasing percent of MBD, but this association became non-significant when adjusted for age and BMI. This was not the case for women who were both residents in the urban setting and still working. Our results suggest that the association between urban women and increased MBD can be partially explained by their lower BMI, but for women still working, there appear to be other contributing factors. Full article

In order to find a consistent, simple and time-efficient method of assessing mammographic breast density (MBD), different methods of assessing density comparing subjective, quantitative, semi-subjective and semi-quantitative methods were investigated. Subjective MBD of anonymized mammographic cases (n = 250) from a national breast-screening programme was rated by 49 radiologists from two countries (UK and USA) who were voluntarily recruited. Quantitatively, three measurement methods, namely VOLPARA, Hand Delineation (HD) and ImageJ (IJ) were used to calculate breast density using the same set of cases, however, for VOLPARA only mammographic cases (n = 122) with full raw digital data were included. The agreement level between methods was analysed using weighted kappa test. Agreement between UK and USA radiologists and VOLPARA varied from moderate (κw = 0.589) to substantial (κw = 0.639), respectively. The levels of agreement between USA, UK radiologists, VOLPARA with IJ were substantial (κw = 0.752, 0.768, 0.603), and with HD the levels of agreement varied from moderate to substantial (κw = 0.632, 0.680, 0.597), respectively. This study found that there is variability between subjective and objective MBD assessment methods, internationally. These results will add to the evidence base, emphasising the need for consistent, simple and time-efficient MBD assessment methods. Additionally, the quickest method to assess density is the subjective assessment, followed by VOLPARA, which is compatible with a busy clinical setting. Moreover, the use of a more limited two-scale system improves agreement levels and could help minimise any potential country bias. Full article