Mammographic parenchymal patterns. Risk indicator for breast cancer?
L. Tabar and P. B. Dean
Mammographic parenchymal patterns, originally presented as a new risk
factor for breast cancer, have been prospectively studied in a large
(27,157 examinations) consecutive screening population. Although there is a
significantly higher risk of breast cancer in the so-called dysplastic
breasts (P2 and DY pattern groups), the classification is of little
practical value, as more than 72% of the cancers in the prevalent
population were found in the so-called low-risk breasts (N1 and P1 pattern
groups). A similar trend occurred at repeated screening of younger women,
in which most of the "incident" cancers were found in the "low-risk"
breasts. These patterns should not be used to influence patient management
or screening programs.
