Six Breast Texture Patterns Associated with Increased Invasive Cancer Risk

Recent research published in the journal Radiology has identified six distinct breast tissue texture patterns that may be linked to a higher likelihood of developing invasive breast cancer. This groundbreaking study analyzed mammograms from over 30,000 women without prior breast cancer diagnoses, employing radiomics—a technique that extracts a vast array of quantitative features from medical images—to uncover patterns not visible to the naked eye.

Breast density, which refers to the proportion of glandular tissue relative to fatty tissue, has long been associated with increased cancer risk and diagnostic difficulty, as dense tissue and cancerous growths both appear white on mammograms. However, this study highlights that beyond density measurements, specific tissue texture patterns can provide additional insights into a woman’s potential risk.

The researchers condensed 390 radiomic features into six recognizable phenotypes, each representing unique tissue characteristics. These phenotypes were tested across mammograms from more than 3,500 women, revealing that certain patterns correlated with a significantly increased risk of invasive breast cancer, including more aggressive types. Interestingly, the study found that these high-risk tissue phenotypes appeared to have a stronger association in Black women compared to white women, emphasizing the importance of understanding racial disparities in breast cancer risk.

Furthermore, these tissue patterns could help predict false-negative mammogram results and interval cancers—cases diagnosed between routine screenings—thus aiding in earlier detection and prevention strategies.

The study’s senior authors, including Dr. Celine M. Vachon and Dr. Despina Kontos, emphasized that identifying women at higher risk through these phenotypes could lead to personalized screening protocols and preventive measures. Future research aims to integrate these radiomic markers with genetic and lifestyle factors, particularly focusing on 3D mammography, to refine risk assessment models.

This advancement underscores the importance of moving beyond traditional density assessments to a more detailed understanding of breast tissue architecture, ultimately improving early detection and reducing breast cancer mortality.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-breast-texture-patterns-linked-higher.html