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Portrait of Sophia Zackrisson. Photo

Sophia Zackrisson

Research group manager, Principal investigator, Professor, MD

Portrait of Sophia Zackrisson. Photo

Investigating the prognostic value of mammographic breast density and mammographic tumor appearance in women with invasive breast cancer : The Malmö Diet and cancer study

Author

  • Li Sturesdotter
  • Anna Maria Larsson
  • Sophia Zackrisson
  • Hanna Sartor

Summary, in English

Background: High breast density is a risk factor for breast cancer. However, whether density is a prognostic factor is debatable. Also, tumor appearances are related to tumor characteristics. Here we investigate the relationship between breast cancer-specific survival and mammographic breast density and mammographic tumor appearances. Methods: Women in the Malmö Diet and Cancer study with invasive breast cancer 1991–2014 were included (n = 1116). Mammographic information, patient and tumor characteristics, vital status, and causes of death were collected through 2018. Breast cancer-specific survival was assessed with Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazard models. Analyses were adjusted for established prognostic factors and stratified by detection mode. Results: High breast density did not significantly impact breast cancer-specific survival. However, there may be increased risk in women with dense breasts and screening-detected tumors (HR 1.45, CI 0.87–2.43). Neither did tumor appearance impact breast cancer-specific survival at long-term follow-up. Conclusions: Breast cancer prognosis in women with high breast density on mammography does not seem impaired compared to women with less dense breasts, once the cancer is established. Neither does mammographic tumor appearance seem to inflict on prognosis, findings that can be of value in the management of breast cancer.

Department/s

  • Radiology Diagnostics, Malmö
  • LUCC: Lund University Cancer Centre
  • The Liquid Biopsy and Tumor Progression in Breast Cancer
  • Breast cancer treatment
  • LU Profile Area: Light and Materials
  • LTH Profile Area: Photon Science and Technology
  • EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health

Publishing year

2023

Language

English

Pages

8-17

Publication/Series

Breast

Volume

70

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Churchill Livingstone

Topic

  • Cancer and Oncology

Keywords

  • Breast cancer
  • Breast density
  • Epidemiology
  • Mammography
  • Prognosis
  • Survival

Status

Published

Research group

  • Radiology Diagnostics, Malmö
  • The Liquid Biopsy and Tumor Progression in Breast Cancer

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0960-9776