Background Parenchymal Enhancement at Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography (CESM) as a Breast Cancer Risk Factor

To assess the extent of background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) at contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM), association between clinical factors and BPE, and between BPE extent and breast cancer.

This study included 516 women who underwent CESM imaging for screening and diagnostic purposes between 2012 and 2015 in a single center. BPE at CESM images was retrospectively, independently and blindly graded by six experienced radiologists using the following scale: minimal, mild, moderate, or marked. Agreement between readers was estimated using Kendall's W coefficient of concordance. Associations between clinical factors and BPE, and between BPE and breast cancer were examined using generalized estimating equations. Association between BPE and breast cancer was assessed for the whole study group, and for the screening population separately.

Most women underwent CESM for breast cancer screening (424/516, 82.2%). Mean age was 53 years, the majority had dense breasts (50.4-94%, depending on the reviewer), and minimal to mild BPE (75.8-89.9%). A total of 53/516 women had breast cancer. Overall concordance (W) values between the readers were 0.611 for breast density and 0.789 on BPE. Increased breast density and younger age were positive predictors for increased BPE (odds ratio [OR] 4.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.32-7.14, p < 0.001; OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.87-4.42, p < 0.001, respectively). Breast radiation therapy was a negative predictor for BPE (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.06-0.31, p < 0.001). Women with increased BPE had increased odds for breast cancer (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.23-4.09, p = 0.008). This result was consistent when screening cases were analyzed separately (OR 6.27, 95% CI 2.38-16.53, p < 0.001).

BPE at CESM was associated with breast density. Women with increased BPE had increased odds for breast cancer, independently of other potential risk factors.