The association between breast cancer risk factors and background parenchymal enhancement at dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MRI

BACKGROUND: Background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) of normal tissue at breast magnetic resonance imaging is suggested to be an independent risk factor for breast cancer. Its association with established risk factors for breast cancer is not fully investigated. PURPOSE: To study the association between BPE and risk factors for breast cancer in a healthy, non-high-risk screening population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We measured BPE and mammographic density and used data from self-reported questionnaires in 214 healthy women aged 43–74 years. We estimated odds ratios for the univariable association between BPE and risk factors. We then fitted an adjusted model using logistic regression to evaluate associations between BPE (high vs. low) and risk factors, including mammographic breast density. RESULTS: The majority of women had low BPE (84%). In a multivariable model, we found statistically significant associations between BPE and age (P = 0.002) and BMI (P = 0.03). We did find a significant association between systemic progesterone medication and BPE, but due to small numbers, the results should be interpreted with caution. The adjusted odds ratio for high BPE was 3.1 among women with density D (compared to B) and 2.1 for density C (compared to B). However, the association between high BPE and density was not statistically significant. We did not find statistically significant associations with any other risk factors. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed the known association of BPE with age and BMI. Although our results show a higher likelihood for high BPE with increasing levels of mammographic density, the association was not statistically significant.