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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 7/2016

01-07-2016 | Breast

Association between breast cancer, breast density, and body adiposity evaluated by MRI

Authors: Wenlian Zhu, Peng Huang, Katarzyna J. Macura, Dmitri Artemov

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 7/2016

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Abstract

Objective

Despite the lack of reliable methods with which to measure breast density from 2D mammograms, numerous studies have demonstrated a positive association between breast cancer and breast density. The goal of this study was to study the association between breast cancer and body adiposity, as well as breast density quantitatively assessed from 3D MRI breast images.

Methods

Breast density was calculated from 3D T1-weighted MRI images. The thickness of the upper abdominal adipose layer was used as a surrogate marker for body adiposity. We evaluated the correlation between breast density, age, body adiposity, and breast cancer.

Results

Breast density was calculated for 410 patients with unilateral invasive breast cancer, 73 patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and 361 controls without breast cancer. Breast density was inversely related to age and the thickness of the upper abdominal adipose layer. Breast cancer was only positively associated with body adiposity and age.

Conclusion

Age and body adiposity are predictive of breast density. Breast cancer was not associated with breast density; however, it was associated with the thickness of the upper abdominal adipose layer, a surrogate marker for body adiposity. Our results based on a limited number of patients warrant further investigations.

Key points

• MRI breast density is negatively associated with body adiposity.
• MRI breast density is negatively associated with age.
• Breast cancer is positively associated with body adiposity.
• Breast Cancer is not associated with MRI breast density.
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Metadata
Title
Association between breast cancer, breast density, and body adiposity evaluated by MRI
Authors
Wenlian Zhu
Peng Huang
Katarzyna J. Macura
Dmitri Artemov
Publication date
01-07-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 7/2016
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-4058-8

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