Mammographic density as marker of increased risk of breast cancer

Abstract

‘Mammographic density’ (MD) is a concept that has entered medical practice since 2017. as a marker of breast cancer risk factor (BC) according to the international classifiation of NCCN. The term reflcts the degree of severity of benign diffuse breast dysplasia in women of post-reproductive age. MD is determined by the ratio of stromal, epithelial, and adipose tissue. According to the literature, in young women, high MD limits the possibilities of X-ray mammography, reducing its effectiveness in oncomammoscreening, leading to the detection of advanced forms of breast cancer. Post-reproductive women with high MD are more likely to develop breast cancer than those with low MD. In this regard, MD is of particular interest for studying its role in oncogenesis. Recent molecular genetic studies of the differences between high and low MD explain the main biological reasons why post-reproductive women with dense breast structure are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. The aim is to identify the factors that inflence the relationship of MD with the risk of developing breast cancer based on a comparative analysis of molecular genetic studies and radiological manifestations of MD of different severity and to identify the factors that contribute to the formation of MD variants.