Byng J W, Yaffe M J, Jong R A, Shumak R S, Lockwood G A, Tritchler D L, Boyd N F
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Radiographics. 1998 Nov-Dec;18(6):1587-98. doi: 10.1148/radiographics.18.6.9821201.
To evaluate the association between mammographic density and breast cancer risk, a simple, observer-assisted technique called interactive thresholding was developed that allows reliable quantitative assessment of mammographic density with use of a computer workstation. Use of this technique helps confirm that mammographic density is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer and is present in a large proportion of breast cancer cases. The strong relationship between mammographic density and breast cancer risk suggests that the causes of breast cancer may be better understood by identifying the factors associated with mammographically dense tissue and determining how such tissue changes as these factors vary. Furthermore, because it can be modified, mammographic density may also be a good vehicle for the development and monitoring of potential preventive strategies. Areas of ongoing investigation include evaluating a potential genetic component of mammographic density by comparing density measurements in twins and understanding changes in density relative to age, menopausal status, exogenous hormone use, and exposure to environmental carcinogens. In addition, work is ongoing to establish measurements from imaging modalities other than mammography and to relate these measurements directly to breast cancer risk.
为了评估乳腺X线密度与乳腺癌风险之间的关联，开发了一种名为交互式阈值法的简单、观察者辅助技术，该技术可利用计算机工作站对乳腺X线密度进行可靠的定量评估。使用该技术有助于证实乳腺X线密度是乳腺癌最强的风险因素之一，且在很大比例的乳腺癌病例中存在。乳腺X线密度与乳腺癌风险之间的密切关系表明，通过识别与乳腺X线致密组织相关的因素并确定这些因素变化时此类组织如何改变，可能会更好地理解乳腺癌的病因。此外，由于乳腺X线密度可以改变，它也可能是制定和监测潜在预防策略的良好载体。正在进行研究的领域包括通过比较双胞胎的密度测量值来评估乳腺X线密度的潜在遗传成分，以及了解密度相对于年龄、绝经状态、外源性激素使用和环境致癌物暴露的变化。此外，正在开展工作以建立除乳腺X线摄影之外的其他成像模态的测量方法，并将这些测量值直接与乳腺癌风险相关联。
