Researchers from Canada have reported that women with high breast density tend to have a higher risk of local recurrence than women with low breast density following breast-conserving surgery for localized invasive breast cancer. The effect of breast density is most apparent among women who do not receive radiation therapy. These results were published early online on November 9, 2009 in Cancer.[1]
Breast density refers to the extent of glandular and connective tissue in the breast. Breasts with more glandular and connective tissue—and less fat—are denser. Breast density is determined by mammography. Women with higher breast density are at increased risk of developing breast cancer. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007 reported that women with extensively dense breast tissue as revealed by mammography have a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer compared with women with less dense breast tissue. Furthermore, cancer among women with dense breast tissue is much harder to detect on mammography than cancer among women with less dense breast tissue.
To explore whether breast density influences risk of breast cancer recurrence, researchers reviewed the medical records of 335 women who underwent breast-conserving surgery for invasive breast cancer.
Mammographic density was classified as low (<25% density), intermediate (25-50% density), or high (>50% density).
- 10-year risk of local cancer recurrence was 21% among women with high breast density and 5% among women with low breast density.
- The relationship between breast density and risk of local breast cancer recurrence was most apparent in the subset of women who did not receive radiation therapy. In these women the 10-year risk of local recurrence was 40% among women with high breast density and 0% among women with low breast density.
Comments: These results suggest that breast density is an important risk factor for local breast cancer recurrence among women. This was a more important adverse risk factor for women who did not receive radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery.
Reference:
[1] Cil T, Fishell E, Hanna W et al. Mammographic density and the risk of breast cancer recurrence after breast-conserving surgery. Cancer [early online publication]. November 9, 2009.
© 1998-2007 OncoEd.com All Rights Reserved.
These materials may discuss uses and dosages for therapeutic products that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. All readers should verify all information and data before administering any drug, therapy or treatment discussed herein. Neither the editors nor the publisher accepts any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or consequences from the use or misuse of the information contained herein.
Patient Home
