[Mammographically distinguishable parenchymal patterns and their significance in estimating breast cancer risk]

A retrospective study of the mammograms of 11020 women was carried out; amongst these, 490 had carcinomas, including 51 so-called interval carcinomas. An attempt was made to test the suggestion advanced by Wolfe that certain dense types of parenchymal pattern on the mammogram are associated with a significantly increased carcinoma risk. We were unable to confirm Wolfe's suggestion. There is a slightly higher risk for pattern P2-DY, which cannot be used as the basis for future management of the patient. Attention is drawn to the risk of missing many carcinomas of the breast, if the suggestions made by Wolfe are followed.