Breast density is normally evaluated with mammography using the BI-RADS lexicon, which is a subjective semi-quantitative classification [1]. Two main points regarding mammographic density should be taken into account: the so called “masking effect”, i.e. increased breast density reduces sensitivity in cancer detection, and the role of breast density as an independent risk factor for breast cancer [2][3][4]. For these reasons in the latest years there is a growing interest not only for breast imaging not only in terms of identification of breast cancer but...

In this retrospective study a total of 111 women (mean age 54.3 years; range 37-82 years) who underwent digital breast mammography and contrast-enhanced breast MRI in our institution were included. Three radiologists in consensus (>4 years experience in breast imaging) scored MBD and BPEql according to the ACR classification (Fig. 1). BPEql was evaluated by reviewing the second post-contrast images (90 s after contrast injection) using the subtracted images. In order to perform the MRBD measurements, free-hand regions-of-interest (ROIs) were drawn along the edges of...

Mean MRBD values across the different MBD categories were as follows: category A (mean ± SD 5.30±0.75%; range, 4.04-6.97%); category B (6.51±1.05%; 4.76-8.95%); category C (10.92±2.56%; 5.92-16.49%); category D (23.73±8.95%; 12.03-53.95%). Values were significantly different among all the MBD categories (p<0.005), except the A versus B. Mean BPEqn across the different BPEql categories were as follows: minimal (12.15±9.17; 0.64-36.51); mild (17.58±9.20; 1.19-40.49); moderate (20.56±9.34; 2.97-39.27); marked (34.69±13.39; 15.80-52.74). Values were significantly different between minimal versus moderate category and marked versus all the others (Fig. 3)....

According to the previous literature our results showed a moderate correlation between BD and BPE both at the qualitative and quantitative evaluation. Use of Dixon sequences represents a new promising and simple method for a volumetric and quantitative estimation of the breast density at MR imaging; further validation using an automatic segmentation method is necessary in order to support its routine clinical application.

American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System Atlas (BIRADS ® Atlas). V Edition. Reston, Va: © American College of Radiology; 2013. Wolfe JN. Breast patterns as an index of risk for developing breast cancer. AJR Am Roentgenol 1976;126(6):1130–1137. Freer PE. Mammographic breast density: impact on breast cancer risk and implications for screening. Radiographics 2015; 35(2):302-15. Boyd NF, Martin LJ, Yaffe MJ, Minkin S. Mammographic density and breast cancer risk: current understanding and future prospects. Breast Cancer Res 2011;13(6):223. Khazen M,Warren RM,...