MRI background parenchymal enhancement, breast density and serum hormones in postmenopausal women Journal Article


Authors: Brooks, J. D.; Sung, J. S.; Pike, M. C.; Orlow, I.; Stanczyk, F. Z.; Bernstein, J. L.; Morris, E. A.
Article Title: MRI background parenchymal enhancement, breast density and serum hormones in postmenopausal women
Abstract: Background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) is the degree to which normal breast tissue enhances on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI-density is a volumetric measure of breast density that is highly correlated with mammographic density, an established breast cancer risk factor. Endogenous estrogen concentrations are positively associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk and BPE has been shown to be sensitive to hormonal exposures. The objective of our study was to examine the relationship between BPE and MRI-density and serum hormone concentrations in postmenopausal women. This was a study of cancer-free postmenopausal women undergoing contrast-enhanced breast MRI (N = 118). At the time of MRI all women completed a self-administered questionnaire and blood samples were collected for hormone analyses. Serum concentrations of estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and bioavailable E2 were examined by category of BPE and MRI-density. Compared to women with “minimal” BPE, those who had “marked” BPE had significantly higher serum concentrations of E1, E2 and bioavailable E2 (90% increase, ptrend across all categories = 0.001; 150% increase, ptrend = 0.001; and 158% increase, ptrend = 0.001, respectively). These associations were only affected to a minor extent by adjustment for BMI and other variables. After adjustment for BMI, no significant associations between MRI-density and serum E1, E2 and bioavailable E2 were observed. Serum estrogen concentrations were significantly positively associated with BPE. Our study provides further evidence of the hormone-sensitive nature of BPE, indicating a potential role for BPE as an imaging marker of endogenous and exogenous hormonal exposures in the breast. © 2018 The Authors International Journal of Cancer published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of UICC
Keywords: breast cancer; mri; hormones; background parenchymal enhancement
Journal Title: International Journal of Cancer
Volume: 143
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0020-7136
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons  
Date Published: 2018-08-15
Start Page: 823
End Page: 830
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31370
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC6041161
PUBMED: 29524207
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 August 2018 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Janice Sinae Sung
    67 Sung
  2. Malcolm Pike
    190 Pike
  3. Elizabeth A Morris
    336 Morris
  4. Irene Orlow
    247 Orlow
  5. Jonine L Bernstein
    142 Bernstein