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. 2023 May;128(9):1701-1709.
doi: 10.1038/s41416-023-02201-5. Epub 2023 Feb 24.

Alternative methods to measure breast density in younger women

Rachel Lloyd  1 , Sarah Pirikahu  1 , Jane Walter  2 , Gemma Cadby  1 , Ellie Darcey  1 , Dilukshi Perera  1 , Martha Hickey  3 , Christobel Saunders  4 , Karol Karnowski  5 , David D Sampson  6 , John Shepherd  7 , Lothar Lilge  2   8 , Jennifer Stone  9
Affiliations

Alternative methods to measure breast density in younger women

Rachel Lloyd et al. Br J Cancer. 2023 May.

Abstract

Background: Breast density is a strong and potentially modifiable breast cancer risk factor. Almost everything we know about breast density has been derived from mammography, and therefore, very little is known about breast density in younger women aged <40. This study examines the acceptability and performance of two alternative breast density measures, Optical Breast Spectroscopy (OBS) and Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), in women aged 18-40.

Methods: Breast tissue composition (percent water, collagen, and lipid content) was measured in 539 women aged 18-40 using OBS. For a subset of 169 women, breast density was also measured via DXA (percent fibroglandular dense volume (%FGV), absolute dense volume (FGV), and non-dense volume (NFGV)). Acceptability of the measurement procedures was assessed using an adapted validated questionnaire. Performance was assessed by examining the correlation and agreement between the measures and their associations with known determinants of mammographic breast density.

Results: Over 93% of participants deemed OBS and DXA to be acceptable. The correlation between OBS-%water + collagen and %FGV was 0.48. Age and BMI were inversely associated with OBS-%water + collagen and %FGV and positively associated with OBS-%lipid and NFGV.

Conclusions: OBS and DXA provide acceptable and viable alternative methods to measure breast density in younger women aged 18-40 years.

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Conflict of interest statement

LL is a co-holder of a patent related to the technology. However, no commercial contract is in place. All remaining authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. OBS cups and device.
Photo demonstrating the four OBS measurement cup sizes in the top photo and the OBS device in use on a participant in the bottom photo.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Correlations of OBS and DXA measures.
Correlations (r) and scatterplots of DXA breast density measures (x axis) and OBS breast density measures (y axis), stratified by cup size (1-red; 2-green; 3-blue; 4-purple) for the 132 women who had both OBS and DXA scans. Solid lines represent linear fit from least squares regression; Dark grey shading represents the 95% Confidence Interval for each solid line. Panel 1: %FGV vs OBS-%water+collagen; Panel 2: FGV and OBS-%water+collagen; Panel 3: NFGV and OBS-%lipid.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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