Age-related ultrasonographic mammary gland density patterns: Implication for breast cancer risk

Introduction: Mammary gland/breast density is important because it is a known biomarker for breast cancer risk. However, the sensitivity of mammography decreases with high breast density found in younger age group. Ultrasound is considered as the first-line examination in the classification of breast density and in the detection and characterization of breast lesions. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between age and ultrasonographic breast density pattern and its implication for breast cancer risk. Materials and Methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional, exploratory, descriptive study involving 658 females. Breast ultrasonographic scans were performed using a Sonoace X1 Machine with a 7.5 MHz transducer. The lesions detected and classified by ultrasonography as benign or malignant were further subjected to cytopathology. Results: Modal age group of the participants ranged from 33 to 43 years representing 29.8%. There was significant correlation (P<0.01) between ultrasonographic mammary gland density pattern and age, the age group of <33 years demonstrated predominant fibroglandular density pattern with mostly benign lesions, while the age group of 33–53 years demonstrated predominant heterogeneous breast density pattern with most of the malignant lesions in this age group, making it the high-risk group for breast cancer. Conclusion: The relationship between age and ultrasonographic breast density is inversely proportional and not absolute. It also concludes that ultrasonography is a reliable screening tool in the diagnostic process for mammary gland lesions, and as an imaging tool, it is the preferred modality in dense breast. The heterogeneous fibroglandular pattern emerged as the high-risk group for breast cancer, especially in middle age.