Summary
We have examined the association between hormone receptor concentration in primary breast cancer and the mammographic pattern of the breast in which the cancer arose. A significant association was found between the concentration of estrogen receptor and the proportion of the breast volume occupied by the radiological signs of dysplasia. Both estrogen receptor concentration and dysplasia were found to be strongly associated with age. Estrogen receptor concentration rose with increasing age, while the age of patients with extensive dysplasia was substantially less than that of patients with no dysplasia. After taking age into account, no association remained between estrogen receptor concentration and mammographic dysplasia. Age is therefore a confounding factor in this association.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Boyd NF, O'Sullivan B, Fishell E, Simor I, Cooke G: Mammographic patterns and breast cancer risk: Methodologic standards and contradictory results. JNCI 72: 1253–1259, 1984
Hinton CP, Roebuck EJ, Williams MR, Blamey RW, Glaves J, Nicholson RI, Griffiths K: Mammographic parenchymal patterns: Value as a predictor of hormone dependency and survival in breast cancer. Am J Radiol 144: 1103–1107, 1985
Hinton CP, Williams MR, Roebuck EJ, Blamey RW, Glaves J, Nicholson RI, Griffiths K: The relationship of background mammographic pattern to hormone dependency in breast cancer. Br J Surg 71: 357–359, 1984
Nielsen NSM, Poulsen HS: Relation between mammographic findings and hormonal receptor content in breast cancer. Am J Radiol 145: 501–504, 1985
McCarty KS Jr, Silva JS, Cox EB, Leight GS Jr, Wells SA, McCarty KS Jr: Relationship of age and menopausal status to estrogen receptor content in primary carcinoma of the breast. Ann Surg 197: 123–127, 1983
Wolfe JN: Breast parenchymal patterns and their changes with age. Radiology 121: 545–552, 1976
Mobbs BG: Close correlation between progesterone receptor concentration and hormonal sensitivity in DMBA — induced mammary tumours of the rat. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol 19: 835–842, 1983
Boyd NF, O'Sulllivan B, Campbell JE, Fishell E, Simor I, Cooke G, Germanson T: Mammographic signs as risk factors for breast cancer. Br J Cancer 45: 185–193, 1982
Snedecor GW, Cochran WG: Statistical Methods, 7th Edition. The Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, 1980
SAS Users Guide, SAS Institute Inc., North Carolina, 1979
Stanford JL, Szklo M, Brinton LA: Estrogen receptors and breast cancer. In: Szklo M, Gordis L, Gregg MB, Levine MM (eds) Epidemiologic Reviews. The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health 8: 82–59, 1986
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boyd, N.F., Fishell, E., Tonkin, K. et al. Age as a confounding factor in the association of mammographic dysplasia and estrogen receptor concentration in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Tr 10, 51–54 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01806135
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01806135