Radiological Hygiene
A quantitative study of the volumetric breast density and related breast characteristics in Chinese women
Xue Ke, Xu Hui, Yue Baorong, Ding Yanqiu, Niu Zhen, Yang Yunfu, Tan Zhan, Ye Zhaoxiang
Published 2024-04-25
Cite as Chin J Radiol Med Prot, 2024, 44(4): 278-285. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112271-20240205-00045
Abstract
ObjectiveTo quantitatively analyse the volumetric breast density (VBD) and related breast characteristics of women in several regions of China and their distribution patterns in different regions and at different ages by using three-dimensional imaging data from breast cone-beam CT (CBCT).
MethodsA total of 1 440 breast CBCT images from three tertiary hospitals in north, southwest and south China were retrospectively investigated. Measurements of VBD and breast characteristics were aided by a threshold-based segmentation tool and dedicated measurement tools in the Koning Imaging Viewer system. Differences in breast characteristics between regions and age groups were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis H-test; Spearman correlation coefficients were used to analyze the correlation between each breast characteristic and age and between breast size and breast density characteristics.
ResultsThe median values for effective diameter of the breast at chest-wall (Deff), chest-wall to nipple length (CNL), breast volume (BV), glandular volume (GV) and VBD for the surveyed groups were 12.5, 6.8 cm; 374.5, 48.6 cm3and 14.6%, respectively. The distributions of Deff, CNL, BV and GV varies in different regions, and the distribution of VBD has no significant difference beetween regions. Deff and CNL had a significant positive correlation with age. In comparison, GV and VBD had a significant negative correlation with age. Deff, CNL and BV were all significantly negatively correlated with VBD.
ConclusionsThis study investigated the parameters of breast size and density characteristics in women from several regions of China, which can provide the data basis for further studies on the establishment of non-compression breast phantom, dose assessment for breast CBCT patients, and breast cancer risk assessment.
Key words:
Breast; Characteristics; Volumetric breast density; Breast cone-beam CT; Mammography
Contributor Information
Xue Ke
Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, China CDC, WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation and Health, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100088, China
Xu Hui
Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, China CDC, WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation and Health, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100088, China
Yue Baorong
Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, China CDC, WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation and Health, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100088, China
Ding Yanqiu
Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, China CDC, WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation and Health, National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100088, China
Niu Zhen
Institute of Occupational Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin 300011, China
Yang Yunfu
Chongqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing 400042, China
Tan Zhan
Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou 510300, China
Ye Zhaoxiang
Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin′s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin 300060, China
