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Oral contraceptive use and mammographic patterns
I T Gram1, E Funkhouser, L Nordgård
1Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Breivika N-9037 Norway. inger.torhild.gram@ism.uit.no
Summary
Oral contraceptive (OC) use is linked to higher risks of mammographic patterns associated with breast cancer. This association is particularly strong in nulliparous women, suggesting a potential impact on breast tissue.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- High-risk mammographic patterns are indicators of increased breast cancer risk.
- Mammographic patterns can serve as a surrogate endpoint for breast cancer.
- Understanding factors influencing mammographic patterns is crucial for risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between oral contraceptive (OC) use and mammographic patterns.
- To explore if OC use influences the likelihood of high-risk mammographic findings.
- To examine this relationship specifically within a cohort of Norwegian women.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 3218 Norwegian women aged 40-56 years.
- Data collected via questionnaires on oral contraceptive history and other epidemiological factors.
- Mammograms categorized into low-risk (Patterns I-III) and high-risk (Patterns IV-V) groups.
- Logistic regression used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Main Results:
- Ever OC users showed a 20% increased likelihood of high-risk mammographic patterns (OR 1.27).
- No dose-response relationship was found between OC use measures and high-risk patterns.
- Nulliparous women who ever used OCs were four times more likely to have high-risk patterns (OR 4.65).
Conclusions:
- Ever oral contraceptive use is associated with an increased prevalence of high-risk mammographic patterns.
- The association is significantly more pronounced among nulliparous women.
- Findings suggest OC use may alter breast tissue, detectable via mammography, potentially influencing breast cancer risk.