6th International Workshop on Breast Densitometry and Breast ...

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6 th <strong>International</strong> <strong>Workshop</strong> on Breast Densitometry
and Breast Cancer Risk Assessment
PREDICTION OF MAMMOGRAPHIC DENSITY USING REPRODUCTIVE AND
LIFESTYLE CHARACTERISTICS
Mariëtte Lokate 1, Linda M. Peelen 1, Marije F. Bakker 1, Petra H.M. Peeters 1, Carla H. van Gils 1
1 Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, PO Box 85500, 3508
GA Utrecht, the Netherlands
Introduction: Breast density is one of the strongest breast cancer risk factors, and is most commonly
assessed using mammography. Since most mammographic breast cancer screening programs start at the
age of 50 years, knowledge of this risk factor becomes available relatively late in life. Earlier information
on this risk factor could help in planning preventive or early detection strategies in these high-risk
women. In this study, we investigated if we can predict mammographic density using characteristics that
are easy to obtain earlier in a woman’s life.
Methods: Within the EPIC-NL cohort, we assessed mammographic density of 871 women aged 50 or 51
years at mammographic examination. We constructed prediction models with mammographic density as
continuous, categorical (