[Mammographic density patterns in women from Torreon, Coahuila]

Breast cancer is the main cause of death by cancer in Mexican women. High mammographic breast density is a well-established breast cancer risk factor that also increases the risk of death. However, there is limited data of breast density patterns among Mexican women and their association with breast cancer incidence and mortality.

To determine the distribution of breast density patterns and BI-RADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) among women from Torreon, Coahuila.

Observational and retrospective study. Mammographic reports of women from Torreon, Mexico, were analyzed. Reports came from IMSS HGZ#16, Sanatorio Español and a private radiological office. Only mammographic records which described age, breast density and Bi-RADS reports were included. Differences on breast density distribution were analyzed with the Chi-Square test according to age, economic sectors and BI-RADS classification.

A total of 2,187 women were included, representing about 1% of the total adult women population of Torreon. The mean age was 54.4 years, and the mammographic density patterns distribution was: 19.15% fatty, 47.76% fibroglandular density, 27.10% heterogeneously dense, and 5.99% extremely dense.

The main pattern in this Mexican population is the fibroglandular density, and extremely dense breast was only 6%. Our results suggest that non-dense breast tissue could increase breast cancer risk. Further studies on related risk factors, like body mass index are required.