Optical transillumination spectroscopy to quantify parenchymal tissue density: an indicator for breast cancer risk

Mammographic screening for early detection of breast cancer has proven valuable in improving breast cancer survival. However, breast cancer incidence is still increasing, and thus preventative oncology needs to receive more attention, with the goal of identifying women with increased risk of developing breast cancer in the future and offering them risk reduction interventions. Mammogram derived parenchymal density pattern has been shown by various authors to provide a high odds ratio for breast cancer. Near-infrared optical transillumination spectroscopy was employed to determine physiological properties of the breast tissue to quantify differences in women with low or high breast cancer risk. Specifically in this study, women who had a recent mammogram underwent examination of their breast tissue by optical transillumination spectroscopy. Areas of adipose and glandular tissues which give rise to mammographic density patterns also have characteristic optical transillumination spectra. Correlation between optical transillumination spectroscopy and mammographic density pattern was established using partial least squares analysis. Results show that predicted tissue density based on optical transillumination spectroscopy correlates with mammographic observed tissue density, with a Spearman Rank correlation coefficient of 0.72. This suggests that optical transillumination spectroscopy may be a promising tool to quantify and monitor changes in breast cancer risk.