Mammographic features at primary breast cancer diagnosis in relation to recurrence-free survival

Purpose: The number of women living with breast cancer (BC) is increasing, and the efficacy of surveillance programs after BC treatment is essential. Identification of links between mammographic features and recurrence could help design follow up strategies, which may lead to earlier detection of recurrence. The aim of this study was to analyze associations between mammographic features at diagnosis and their potential association with recurrence-free survival (RFS).

Methods: Women with invasive BC in the prospective Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (n = 1116, 1991-2014) were assessed for locoregional and distant recurrences, with a median follow-up of 10.15 years. Of these, 34 women were excluded due to metastatic disease at diagnosis or missing recurrence data. Mammographic features (breast density [BI-RADS and clinical routine], tumor appearance, mode of detection) and tumor characteristics (tumor size, axillary lymph node involvement, histological grade) at diagnosis were registered. Associations were analyzed using Cox regression, yielding hazard ratios (HR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI).

Results: Of the 1082 women, 265 (24.4 %) had recurrent disease. There was an association between high mammographic breast density at diagnosis and impaired RFS (adjusted HR 1.32 (0.98-1.79). In analyses limited to screen-detected BC, this association was stronger (adjusted HR 2.12 (1.35-3.32). There was no association between mammographic tumor appearance and recurrence.

Conclusion: RFS was impaired in women with high breast density compared to those with low density, especially among women with screen-detected BC. This study may lead to insights on mammographic features preceding BC recurrence, which could be used to tailor follow up strategies.