Mammogram density estimation as breast cancer risk in intermediate-risk women in Warith International Cancer Institution

Introduction: Breast cancer is the second most common malignant tumor worldwide and the leading cause of cancer death among women in developing regions, including the Middle East and North Africa. This study aims to evaluate Mammogram Density Estimation for Assessing Breast Cancer Risk in Intermediate-Risk Women at Warith International Cancer Institution.
Methods: The study included 261 women aged 40-78 who visited the Warith International Cancer Institution in Karbala, Iraq, between May 2023 and April 2024. Participants were divided into two groups based on mammographic breast density (MBD) according to the BI-RADS classification: non-dense (fatty and scattered fibroglandular) and dense (heterogeneously dense and dense) breasts. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and the association between breast density and various breast conditions was analyzed using logistic regression.
Results: For malignant cases, the odds ratio (OR) for invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was 1.04, suggesting no significant difference in the likelihood of IDC between dense and non-dense breasts. The OR for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was 1.60, indicating a slightly higher, but not statistically significant, likelihood of DCIS in dense breasts. The overall OR for malignant cases was 1.26, showing a trend towards a higher likelihood of malignancy in dense breasts, but it was not statistically significant.
For benign conditions, the OR for fibrocystic changes was 1.76, suggesting a higher likelihood in dense breasts, but the results were not statistically significant. Similarly, the ORs for fibroadenoma (1.27) and simple cysts (1.40) showed a slight increase in dense breasts but without statistical significance. Abscess and duct ectasia were less likely in dense breasts, but the results were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The study findings suggest that some breast conditions may be more common in dense breasts, but the differences are not statistically significant in many cases. Further targeted research is needed to understand better the relationships between breast density and various breast pathologies.