The impact of changes in breast density over time on breast cancer risk

Mammographic density is not static; instead, it is influenced by a range of factors, including age, number of births, hormone use, and menopause. The current study aims to evaluate the association between both baseline breast density and its changes over time and the risk of breast cancer in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Patients over the age of 40 who presented between 2022 and 2024 for either breast cancer diagnosis or routine breast cancer screening were retrospectively reviewed. The patterns of changes in density in the mammograms were analyzed, comparing those who developed cancer with those who did not. In premenopausal patients, a statistically significant relationship was found between cancer development and both age (p = 0.01, OR = 0.90 [0.82-0.98]) and the rate of change in density in the mammograms (p = 0.04, OR = 7.46 [1.09-50.40]). In postmenopausal patients, A statistically significant relationship could not be demonstrated (p = 0.60, OR = 1.72 [0.24-12.30]). The rate of decrease in fibroglandular tissue density was found to be associated with breast cancer in premenopausal patients. Applying this finding and monitoring the pattern and rate of density changes in mammographic images may allow more personalized risk-reduction strategies.