Screen-film mammographic density and breast cancer risk: A comparison of the volumetric standard mammogram form and the interactive threshold measurement methods

Abstract

Background: Mammographic density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer, usually measured by an areabased threshold method that dichotomizes the breast area on a mammogram into dense and nondense regions. Volumetric methods of breast density measurement, such as the fully automated standard mammogram form (SMF) method that estimates the volume of dense and total breast tissue, may provide a more accurate density measurement and improve risk prediction. Methods: In 2000-2003, a case-control study was conducted of 367 newly confirmed breast cancer cases and 661 age-matched breast cancer-free controls who underwent screen-film mammography at several centers in Toronto, Canada. Conditional lo..