Mammographic density and the incidence of breast cancer – our experience

Česká verzia

Authors: V. Bella; L. Bellová
Authors place of work: Onkologický ústav sv. Alžbety v Bratislave
Published in the journal: Prakt Gyn 2011; 15(1): 11-14
Category: Original Article

Summary

Introduction:
Carcinoma of the breast is the most frequently occurring malignant tumour amongst the female population. The etiology of the origins of this disease is multifactorial. Several risk factors, related to carcinoma of the breast, are known from epidemiological studies. High-risk factors also include the density of the mammary gland.

It was the aim of our study to ascertain the extent to which density of the mammary gland has an effect on the origins of carcinoma of the breast.

Materials and methods:
In our retrospective study, we ascertained the correlation between increased mammographic density and the incidence of carcinoma of the breast in 691 women with carcinoma of the breast and 1,382 women without carcinoma of the breast, aged 40–74 years, at 5-year age intervals.

Methods:
Three doctors made an independent, subjective assessment of mammary gland density, resulting in an average density from the three results gained.

Results:
A positive correlation was found at all age intervals. The results had high statistical significance in women, regardless of their age.

Conclusion:
The density of the mammary gland is a risk factor in incidence of carcinoma of the breast.

Key words:
breast cancer – density of breast – risk of breast cancer

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