The Effect of Breast Parenchymal Density on Breast Cancer Subtypes and Prognostic Factors

Abstract

Objective: Mammographic breast parenchymal density is the radiological composition of radiodense fibroglandular tissue and radiolucent adipose tissue. Dense breasts restrict the imaging of lesions detected by mammography and reduce the sensitivity of mammography. In this study, we investigated correlation between breast parenchymal density and prognosis, tumor biology, reoperation rates and prognostic factors.
 Methods: Patients who were operated for breast cancer between January 2017-December 2019 were included. The craniocaudal and mediolateral images obtained during conventional mammograms were collected in a database. The appearance of radiologically dense and lucent areas on mammography was taken as the mammographic percentage consistent with the current literatüre
 Results: According to breast parenchymal density, there were 21 patients (14.7%) with type 1 breast density, 29 (20.3%) with type 2, 47 (32.9%) with type 3 and 46 (32.1%) with type 4. Mean survival time due to breast cancer was 27.45±17.85 months (1-63), and 139 patients (97.2%) lived, while 4 (2.8%) were exitus.
 Conclusion: Increased breast parenchymal density is a crucial risk factor for breast cancer. The effects of density on tumor biology and prognosis are still controversial. Although increased breast density seems to have an effect on indicators of poor prognosis. Additional examinations should be taken into consideration in order not to cause delay or skipping in diagnosis due to the decreased sensitivity of mammography in dense breasts