Association between Participant Characteristics and Breast Parenchymal Texture Variation among Postmenopausal Women

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Imaging Science
• Oncology Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Mammographic parenchymal texture is a known breast cancer risk predictor.
• Factors influencing mammographic texture variability are not well understood.
• This study investigates the relationship between breast cancer risk factors and mammographic texture in women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between mammographic texture features and clinical/epidemiological risk factors in postmenopausal women.
• To identify which factors contribute to variations in breast parenchymal texture.
• To explore potential unknown breast cancer risk mechanisms related to mammographic texture.

Main Methods:

• 305 postmenopausal women were recruited between October 2020 and July 2022.
• 344 texture features were extracted from 2-D digital mammograms and analyzed using principal components analysis and clustering.
• Associations between texture clusters and participant characteristics were assessed using statistical tests and multinomial logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Participants were categorized into three distinct mammographic texture groups.
• Texture groups significantly differed by age, BMI, race, time since menopause, and breast density measures (BI-RADS, percent, and dense area).
• Participant characteristics accounted for 32% of the variability in mammographic texture features.

Conclusions:

• Mammographic texture in postmenopausal women is influenced by factors that change over time, such as BMI and breast dimensions.
• Texture patterns appear less affected by reproductive events like parity or age at first birth.
• The limited variability explained suggests that unknown or under-investigated breast cancer risk mechanisms are involved in texture patterns.