Breast Density and Breast Cancer Incidence in the Lebanese Population: Results from a Retrospective Multicenter Study

Abstract

Purpose To study the distribution of breast mammogram density in Lebanese women and correlate it with breast cancer (BC) incidence. Methods Data from 1,049 women who had screening or diagnostic mammography were retrospectively reviewed. Age, menopausal status, contraceptives or hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), parity, breastfeeding, history of BC, breast mammogram density, and final BI-RADS assessment were collected. Breast density was analyzed in each age category and compared according to factors that could influence breast density and BC incidence. Results 120 (11.4%) patients had BC personal history with radiation and/or chemotherapy; 66 patients were postmenopausal under HRT. Mean age was 52.58 ± 11.90 years. 76.4% of the patients (30–39 years) had dense breasts. Parity, age, and menopausal status were correlated to breast density whereas breastfeeding and personal/family history of BC and HRT were not. In multivariate analysis, it was shown that the risk of breast cancer significantly increases 3.3% with age (P = 0.005), 2.5 times in case of menopause (P = 0.004), and 1.4 times when breast density increases (P = 0.014). Conclusion Breast density distribution in Lebanon is similar to the western society. Similarly to other studies, it was shown that high breast density was statistically related to breast cancer, especially in older and menopausal women.

Characteristics of Breast Cancer Metastasizing to Bone in a Mediterranean Population

“…In this study, the mean age of included patients with breast cancer metastasizing to bone was 52.5±14.2 years, identical to the mean age found by Salem et al among breast cancer patients in Lebanon [13].…”

Relationship between Mammographic Density and Age in the United Arab Emirates Population

“…Comparison in the percentage of females with breast density of 50% and above between our study's results and the studies performed in Lebanon [17] and New York [18]. …”

“…These results in Emirati women were compared with published results in Lebanese and Western women [17, 18] (Table 4, Figure 2). These studies also found a negative correlation between breast density and age.…”

Mammographic Breast Density Profile of Jordanian Women With Normal and Breast Cancer Findings

“…The study demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between age and MBD among normal and breast cancer groups of Jordanian women. The results revealed that 68.9% of women in the normal and 70.9% of breast cancer group reported high MBD – ACR BI-RADS c or d. This is higher than the recorded percentage for women in the United States (55.4%), 17 China (52.8%), 22 Lebanon (52.9%), 23 Uganda (39%), 24 United Arab Emirates (23.6%), 25 and India (16%). 26 This density difference emphasises both the increased risk of breast cancer in this population and the importance of local data informing screening policy rather than that of the US or other international data.…”