Breast Shape Change Associated with Aging: A Study Using Prone Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective assessments of the shapes of various parts of the body can be made using images acquired with multidetector row computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. These images can be useful for understanding the changes in body shape that accompany aging.

Data from our previous bilateral prone breast magnetic resonance imaging studies between March and August 2013 were analyzed. Breast size and volume were measured using these images. All the patients included in the study were divided into a younger group (54 years or younger) and an older group (55 years or older). The values were compared between the 2 groups using paired t tests. Regarding variables that were shown to have a significant difference between the 2 groups, the relationships between age and the values of the variables were evaluated using the Pearson correlation coefficient.

A total of 90 breasts, 45 breasts in the younger group and 45 breasts in the older group, were used for analysis. There was a significant correlation between age and craniocaudal nipple deviation (R = -0.38; P < 0.001) and between age and the measured breast volume (R = 0.26; P < 0.05). There was also a significant correlation between the measured breast volume and the craniocaudal nipple deviation (R = -0.48; P < 0.001).

A caudal deviation of the nipple and an increase in volume were age-related changes in breast shape. These 2 variables were also correlated.