The Short-Term Effect of Weight Loss Surgery on Volumetric Breast Density and Fibroglandular Volume

Abstract

Purpose Obesity and breast density are both associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and are potentially modifi- able. Weight loss surgery (WLS) causes a significant reduc- tion in the amount of body fat and a decrease in breast cancer risk. The effect of WLS on breast density and its components has not been documented. Here, we analyze the impact of WLS on volumetric breast density (VBD) and on each of its components (fibroglandular volume and breast volume) by using three-dimensional methods. Materials and Methods Fibroglandular volume, breast vol- ume, and their ratio, the VBD, were calculated from mammo- grams before and after WLS by using VolparaTM automated software. Mammograms were performed on average 11.6 ± 9.4 months before and 10.1 ± 7 months after WLS. There was a significant reduction in average breast volume (39.4 % decrease) and aver- age fibroglandular volume (15.5 % decrease), and thus, the av- erage VBD increased from 5.15 to 7.87 % (p < 1 × 10−9) after WLS. When stratified by menopausal status and diabetic status, VBD increased significantly in all groups but only perimeno- pausal and postmenopausal women and non-diabetics experi- enced a significant reduction in fibroglandular volume. Conclusions Breast volume and fibroglandular volume decreased, and VBD increased following WLS, with the most significant change observed in postmenopausal women and non-diabetics. Further studies are warranted to determine how physical and biological alterations in breast density components after WLS may impact breast cancer risk. Kathryn M. Verbanac verbanack@ecu.edu 1 Department of Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA Results For the 80 women included, average body mass index 2 decreased from 46.0 ± 7.22 to 33.7 ± 7.06 kg/m2.