Mammographic density as a predictor of breast cancer outcome

Abstract

This clinical investigation explored mammographic density, a strong etiologic risk factor for breast cancer, as a predictor of local breast cancer recurrence. The authors reported that women with intermediate and high breast density had a significantly elevated risk to develop a local breast cancer recurrence. However, this effect was only observed among patients who had not received radiotherapy. Only two previous reports have shown that mammographic density may be a prognostic factor, but the studies disagree on the role of radiotherapy as an effect modifier. Future studies that incorporate additional risk factors, e.g., obesity, need to examine the role of mammographic density in larger patient population before including breast density in treatment decision models.