Philippa Lucy Skippage MBChB, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Louise Wilkinson MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Steven David Allen MBBS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mitch Dowsett MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nicky Roche MCh, FRCS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Roger A'Hern, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Breast density is a well known highly significant predictor in the risk of developing breast cancer. Several methods are currently available for assessing breast density but all are subject to introbserver variability and suffer from the inability to assess the breast as a 3-dimensional structure. Using Quantra™ to quantify breast density, we have correlated this with risk factors to determine what impact these variables have on breast density.

Patients were selected from the screening population at the South West London Breast Screening Unit, London. Women attending for full field digital mammography between December 2008 & March 2009 were invited to participate in the study by a postal questionnaire. Consenting women returned the lifestyle questionnaire allowing further data collection including demographics, menopausal status and HRT use. Questionnaire data was correlated against breast density measurements to determine the degree of association. Following consent the mammograms were assessed on a Hologic™ workstation and breast density for each breast calculated using Quantra™. Quantra™ is a new automated mathematical algorithm for the volumetric assessment of  breast tissue composition from digital mammograms. Density data is displayed instantly following the touch of a button on the workstation. Ethics approval was sought and deemed unnecessary by our local Research and Ethics Committee.

683 women were invited to participate in the study. Those with implants or mastectomy were excluded. Of 231 questionnaires returned to date 221 correctly completed questionnaires were assessed . The mean age of the participants was 59 years (range 49 - 81). Mean breast density was 19.7% fibroglandular tissue (range 8.5 - 48.5%). Mean fibroglandular volume was 97.4mls (range 15 - 440mls). There was an overall decrease in breast density with age (Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient -0.17). Correlation between breast density and HRT use showed a positive result (correlation coefficient 0.07). With further data collection these results are expected to be reinforced.  

Quantra™ has been shown to be an accurate and reproducible tool for quantifying breast density as shown by its expected correlation with lifestyle and demographic data. Given its ease of acquisiton and display, this may be the future of breast density quantification in the digital age.

 

Skippage, P, Wilkinson, L, Allen, S, Dowsett, M, Roche, N, A'Hern, R, Correlation of Age and HRT with Breast Density as Assessed by Quantra™.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8008588.html