Association between Transillumination Breast Spectroscopy and Quantitative Mammographic Features of the Breast

Abstract

Transillumination breast spectroscopy (TiBS) uses nonionizing optical radiation to gain information about tissue properties directly from the breast. TiBS measurements were obtained from 225 women with normal mammograms. Principal component analysis was used to reduce the spectral data set into four principal components and to generate four TiBS scores (t 1 -t 4 ) for each woman. These components and scores represent light scattering, water, lipid, and hemoglobin content. Percent density, dense area, and nondense area were measured using Cumulus. The association between TiBS scores and quantitative mammographic features was analyzed using linear regression stratified by menopausal status and adjusted for body mass index. Among premenopausal women, t 1 and t 3 were significantly associated with percent density (b t 1 = À0.14, P = 0.04; b t 3 = À2.43, P < 0.0001), whereas t 2 and t 3 were significantly associated with dense area (b t 2 = À1.57, P < 0.0001; b t 3 = À2.54, P < 0.0001). Among postmenopausal women, t 1 , t 3 , and t 4 were significantly associated with percent density (b t 1 = À0.30, P < 0.0001; b t 3 = À2.51, P < 0.0001; b t 4 = 4.75, P < 0.0001) and dense area (b t 1 = À0.19, P = 0.004; b t 3 = À2.13, P = 0.002; b t 4 = 5.02, P < 0.0001). Scores t 2 and t 4 were also significantly correlated with age among postmenopausal women (r t 2 = 0.41 and r t 4 = À0.36).

Collagen content as a risk factor in breast cancer? A pilot clinical study.

“…Breast density is recognized as a strong and independent risk factor for breast cancer and is usually quantified by X-ray mammography. Recently, optical techniques have been shown to offer a valid non-invasive and possibly cost-effective alternative for the assessment of breast density even at young age [1][2][3] .…”

Diffuse optical spectroscopy of breast tissue extended to 1100 nm

“…1 Optical data interpreted using principal component analysis have already shown a strong correlation with quantitative mammographic features. 4 The quantification of collagen content based on optical measurements could provide a noninvasive means for the direct assessment of breast density, which presently requires the use of ionizing radiation ͑x-ray mammography͒. For diagnostic purposes, it is also interesting to note that high breast density is a recognized risk factor for developing breast cancer.…”

Is Collagen an Independent Risk Factor for Breast Cancer?

“…Identifying subjects at high risk is thus a key goal, as it would allow designing personalized screening/diagnostics paths on small groups, which would not be sustainable in population-wide programs. Mammographic breast density is recognized as an important risk factor for breast cancer [1] Recently, optical techniques have shown to offer a real non-invasive and potentially costeffective alternative for the assessment of breast density even at young age [2,3]. However, the origin of breast cancer is not fully understood yet, and other important risk factors may still be unidentified.…”