A comparison of mammographic parenchymal patterns in premenopausal Japanese and British women.

Normal premenopausal Japanese women have significantly more favourable mammographic parenchymal patterns (Wolfe Grades) than comparable British women. This finding is unaffected when the women are stratified by age, Quetelet's Index, age at menarche, age at first birth, and parity.

Relationship of mammographic parenchymal patterns with breast cancer risk factors and risk of breast cancer in a prospective study.

A prospective study has been conducted on 4954 female volunteers from the Island of Guernsey between 1977 and 1985 to examine risk factors for breast cancer and their relationship to mammographic parenchymal patterns as assessed by Wolfe's method of grading. Up to September 1988, 69 women had developed breast cancer, 11 of whom were prevalent cases being diagnosed within six months of mammography. The remaining incident cases were diagnosed six to 126 months (median 65 months) after entry to the study. Univariate analysis showed that the distribution of Wolfe grades in the population was significantly associated with menopausal status, age, parity, adiposity, age at menarche, age at first childbirth and use of oral contraception, but not with a family history of breast cancer. Multivariate analysis of the data for these variables from either pre- and/or post-menopausal women indicated that age, parity and adiposity were significantly related to Wolfe grade pattern. Age had an opposite effect in pre- compared with postmenopausal women thus the probability of either a P2 or DY pattern increased with increasing age in premenopausal but decreased in postmenopausal women so that incidence peaked around the menopause. Other variables did not achieve significance in the multivariate analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for women with P2 or DY patterns using those with N1 or P1 grades as the reference group. The ORs were determined at two censoring times; one at five years and the other to include the most recent follow-up of this cohort. The ORs were adjusted for years of follow-up, age and adiposity and in postmenopausal women adjustment was also made for age at menarche.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Radiological evaluation of benign breast disorders.

The radiological features of common benign conditions of the breast and the radiological procedures used in the investigation of benign breast disorders are presented.

The permanent effect of reproductive events on blood prolactin levels and its relation to breast cancer risk: a population study of postmenopausal women.

In each of two population-based studies conducted on the Island of Guernsey between 1967-1976 and 1977-1984, respectively, single specimens of blood were taken from over 5000 normal women. From these two studies there were 1173 and 946 postmenopausal women in whom blood prolactin was determined and multivariate analysis was used to establish the association between blood prolactin concentration and possible determinants of risk of breast cancer. Since prolactin levels were log-normally distributed these analyses were done on log-transformed data. The age at menarche or menopause, age at first or last childbirth, length of reproductive life (i.e. time from menarche to menopause) or post-menopausal life (i.e. time from menopause to time of blood sampling), contraceptive use and history of breast cancer were not significantly associated with blood prolactin concentration. Of significance were age, parity, time of blood sampling and assay drift. Ponderosity (Quetelet's Index) was positively associated with prolactin concentration and this was significant using a one-tail criterion. Women with a mammographic pattern designated DY by Wolfe had significantly higher prolactin levels than those with N1 patterns. However, the main finding to emerge was that after standardizing for all the other variables increasing parity was related to a step-wise reduction in blood prolactin levels. Since this had occurred in women who had had their last child up to 35 years previously it implies this effect is permanent. It could therefore be that the protective effect on breast cancer risk of multiparity and early first pregnancy could be mediated by such a life-long reduction in blood prolactin levels.

Urinary epidermal growth factor excretion and breast cancer risk.

The amount of urinary epidermal growth factor (EGF) excreted was determined in 350 normal women of whom 37 subsequently developed breast cancer. These were a group of women selected on a case-control basis from 5000 volunteers who had participated in a prospective epidemiological study. Urinary EGF excretion was not correlated with known risk factors such as age at menarche or menopause, age at first or last full-term child or parity. Neither was it associated with day or length of menstrual cycle, breast mammographic parenchymal pattern or the blood concentration of prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone or its sulphate ester. Univariate analysis indicated that the amount of urinary EGF was significantly correlated with urinary creatinine (P less than 0.001), age (P less than 0.001), urinary androsterone (P less than 0.02) or aetiocholanolone (P less than 0.02), height (P less than 0.05) and weight (P less than 0.05). However, multivariate analysis showed that the amount of urinary EGF was correlated only with creatinine excretion (P less than 0.001) and age (P less than 0.001) and that the significance of the other correlations were probably due to the confounding influence of creatinine.

Sex hormone-binding globulin and the natural history of breast cancer.

Low concentrations of SHBG in the blood appear to be related to rapid tumour growth rates whereas normal values are associated with slower rates. The inferences drawn from these and other experimental results are as follows: 1. It is no longer necessary to postulate that an abnormal endocrine environment is related to the risk of breast cancer. 2. Variation within the normal range of endocrine function may be sufficient to account for marked differences in the growth rates of transformed cells. 3. It is suggested that women whose tumours arise in an environment characterised by SHBG concentrations at the lower end of the normal range (and, hence, non-SHBG-bound oestradiol levels at the top end of the range) will tend to have an earlier age at diagnosis, a lower frequency of oestrogen-receptor positive tumours and a lower proportion of hormone responsive tumours than women with SHBG levels at the top of the range. 4. Case/control studies in which growth rates are not taken into account may be difficult to interpret.

Changes in Wolfe mammographic patterns with aging.

Mammograms of 212 women were examined at a mean interval of 15 (range 11-17) years, to determine whether there was any change in Wolfe mammographic pattern with age. The mean age of the patients at repeat mammography was 52 (range 32-75) years. The DY pattern tended to change to P2 or P1 with age. Those in whom the DY pattern remained tended to be younger (mean age 47 years) than those who changed to P2 (57 years), or P1 (55 years). Women whose pattern changed from DY to N1 had a mean age of 42 years. These findings support the hypothesis that the perilobular connective-tissue elements are the structures responsible for the dense appearance of the DY breast, as these elements would be most active between 15 and 45 years (peak reproductive period) and tend to regress later.

Laryngeal papillomatosis.

Four cases of laryngeal papillomatosis are presented to illustrate the clinical and radiological features associated with this condition. In children the papillomas are usually multiple and benign but they frequently recur after surgical treatment. In adults they are generally solitary and have a very low recurrence rate. Xeroradiography of the neck is useful in assessing the extent of papilloma spread.

A prospective study of mammographic parenchymal patterns and risk of breast cancer.

Breast parenchymal patterns have been assessed by the method of Wolfe in a prospective study in Guernsey. Women with P2 or DY grades had approximately four times the risk of developing breast cancer compared with those with N1 or P1 grades. Age, weight, parity and age at birth of first child are all related to the distribution of mammographic patterns. The combination of these variables with Wolfe grades may identify subsets of the population at very high risk.

Radiological appearances of hydatid disease in Wales.

Thirty six patients with hydatid disease have been investigated in the Radiology Departments of Cardiff hospitals between June 1973 and June 1984; thirty two of these patients are likely to have acquired the disease in Wales. There were 16 hepatic cysts, 3 renal cysts, 2 cerebral cysts, 15 pulmonary cysts, 1 pleural cyst, 1 recurrent spinal cyst, and 1 cyst of the broad ligament. The radiological features are discussed. These patients emphasize the higher incidence of hydatid disease in Wales, compared with other regions of the United Kingdom, and the need to consider this diagnosis in Welsh patients from rural areas, who have large pulmonary opacities, or hepatic, renal, or cerebral cystic abnormalities.

Fibroadenolipoma of the breast.

Fibroadenolipoma is a well recognised but unusual benign tumour of the breast. It is a circumscribed lesion composed of fat and other breast tissues which may be normal or which may show various benign changes. The presence of smooth muscle has been recorded but was not found in our cases. A series of eight cases is described, occurring over a period of 10 years in a series of 20 000 mammograms. Radiological and pathological correlation is made and histological changes are described. Our findings are compared with other reviews in the literature. The lesions are usually diagnosed radiologically.

Mammary skin oedema: a new prognostic indicator for breast cancer.

Mammary skin thickening shown on the mammogram was measured in 220 patients with non-inflammatory breast cancer, and the mean skin oedema was derived by taking the mean of five measurements from separate sites on the breast (upper part, lower part, medial part, lateral part, and areola) after subtracting the corresponding figures from the opposite (normal) breast. The prevalence of appreciable oedema (greater than 0.25 mm) was 70% for tumours less than 1 cm and 100% for tumours more than 3 cm in diameter. This measure of oedema correlated positively and significantly with tumour size and lymph node status. In a minimum of 60 months' follow up patients developing recurrence had significantly higher oedema values. The amount of oedema also predicted recurrence better than lymph node status, tumour size, or tumour stage. Oedema and tumour size, information available preoperatively, provide a simple means of assessing prognosis before definitive treatment.

Risk of breast cancer in women with history of benign disease of the breast.

A consecutive series of 791 women who had attended diagnostic breast clinics during 1967-70 and been found to be free of malignant disease were later traced to determine their subsequent incidence of breast cancer. Of the 770 (97%) successfully traced, 22 had developed breast cancer. Based on data from the Welsh Cancer Registry only eight cases of breast cancer had been expected, so that the excess risk for the group was 2.7. The increased risk occurred in all age groups and in women deemed "essentially normal" as well as in those who had had a pathological abnormality. The risk was increased when epithelial hyperplasia was present. No excess mortality from breast cancer was apparent, but follow up was short. More breast symptoms were experienced and more biopsies performed than expected in this group of women. Women with a past history of benign breast disease have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Selective screening of these women, however, may be uneconomic and a cause of groundless anxiety.

Breast parenchymal patterns in women with bilateral primary breast cancer.

Mammograms were obtained from 44 women aged over 30 years with bilateral primary breast cancer, 60 women with unilateral breast cancer, matched for age and menopausal status with the bilateral cases, and 937 normal women, again all aged over 30 years. The mammograms were classified according to Wolfe's criteria. Both groups of cancer patients were found to have a significantly (p less than 0.05) greater proportion of pre-menopausal women with the DY type of breast parenchymal pattern compared with the normal pre-menopausal women. No association was found between the P2 mammographic pattern and breast cancer. The study failed to show any difference in the distribution of mammographic risk categories in women with bilateral disease and those with unilateral cancers only.

Importance of mastalgia in operable breast cancer.

The importance of pain as a presenting symptom of breast cancer has been assessed in a series of 240 patients with operable breast cancer over four years. From an analysis of the case histories of 36 patients the diagnosis proved difficult in one-quarter of the cancers. This is explained by the high incidence of subclinical and lobular carcinoma in the group. Cancer must be seriously considered as a diagnosis in patients presenting with well-localised breast pain of recent onset. These patients should be followed for at least one year after the onset of the pain before cancer is confidently excluded.

The relation between radiological patterns of the breast and body weight and height.

Mammograms were obtained from 942 normal volunteer women aged over 35 years, and were classified by Wolfe's criteria. There was no relationship between height and mammographic pattern. An increase in weight, whether corrected for height or not, was associated with an increase in the proportion of N grades and a concomitant decrease in DY grade mammograms. This effect reached formal significance in pre-menopausal women but was highly significant in post-menopausal women. For women who were either above or below their ideal weight there was a significant positive correlation between parity and the proportion of N and P1 mammograms. The slopes of the linear regression for these two groups were the same, although the elevation of the above-ideal weight group was significantly greater. This implies that for any given parity, there are about 16% more N or P1 grades in the above-ideal compared with the below-ideal weight group.

The relation between radiographic features and determinants of risk of breast cancer.

Mammograms were obtained from 942 normal women aged over 30 years, and were classified by Wolfe's criteria. In women with an enhanced risk of breast cancer associated with a late age at first child or nulliparity, there was a significant increase in the proportion of P2 and DY mammographic patterns which are thought to be a radiological index of risk. There was a decrease in the proportion of P2 and DY grades in women using steroidal contraceptives. However, the association between radiological and epidemiological determinants of risk did not hold for age at menarche.