Breast size as a determinant of breast cancer

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether breast size as reflected in cup size is independently associated with Wolfe's mammographic patterns. DESIGN: Univariate and multivariate associations between the waist/hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), cup size, age, parity, age at menarche menopausal status and Wolfe's mammographic parenchymal patterns were determined by (multiple) linear logistic regression. SETTING: Population based mammographic breast cancer screening project. SUBJECTS: 7819 women between 39 to 52 years of age. RESULTS: The univariate analysis demonstrated that women in the lowest tertile with respect to BMI and WHR when compared to women in the upper tertile were significantly more likely to display the high risk P2, Dy breast patterns. Cup size showed a similar inverse relation with the P2, Dy patterns. When age, WHR and BMI are entered together in the multivariate model the relation between cup size and the P2 Dy patterns is no longer significant in the upper tertile. CONCLUSION: Breast size is not a major independent determinant of the high risk P2, Dy parenchymal breast patterns when the WHR and BMI are taken into account