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Tamoxifen in women with breast cancer and mammographic density
M L Meggiorini1, L Labi, A R Vestri
1Department of Gynecology, Perinatology and Child Health, "Sapienza", University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Purpose Of Investigation:
To evaluate the effect of tamoxifen on mammographic density using a qualitative and a semiquantitative method.
Methods:
Mammograms from 148 women treated for breast cancer before and after surgery were reviewed: 68 were administered tamoxifen; 80 did not receive tamoxifen. The mammograms were classified in one of the four BIRADS density categories by two radiologists blinded to the treatment and by a computer-assisted method after digitizing images.
Results:
At mammographic one-year-follow-up density was reduced in both groups and remained stable in the following years. A comparison of mammograms performed before surgery and after one year showed a statistically significant difference in density reduction between the tamoxifen and the non-tamoxifen-treated group. Good agreement was obtained between the qualitative and semiquantitative method.
Conclusion:
Breast density reduction observed in women treated with tamoxifen may help in the detection of small tumors in dense breasts by means of reducing the masking effect of parenchyma.
