Proton MR spectroscopy of normal breasts: Association of risk factors for breast cancer with water and lipid composition of the breast

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the water and lipid composition of normal women breasts on proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS), and the association of breast cancer risk factors with 1H-MRS parameters. Materials and methods: Three groups of participants were included: group 1, women without a family history of breast cancer (n = 49); group 2, women with at least one affected first-degree relative (n = 77); group 3, contralateral normal breasts of women with newly diagnosed unilateral breast cancer (n = 84). 1H-MRS parameters were shown below: water fraction 1 (WF1) = (water integral)/(water integral + integral for methylene peak); lipid line width for methylene resonance (LW1) and lipid line width for methyl peaks (LW2) were measured. The association of breast cancer risk factors - age, breast density, body mass index (BMI), menopausal status, group with 1H-MRS parameters - was analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results: In age-adjusted multiple linear regression, breast density was positively associated with WF1 (P = 0.009, 0.001, and < 0.001 for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively). BMI was inversely associated with LW1 in groups 1 (P = 0.040) and 3 (P = 0.005). In group 3, premenopausal breasts had lower LW2 than their postmenopausal counterparts (P = 0.033). Group 3 had narrower LW2 than group 2 (P = 0.007). Conclusions: The risk factors for breast cancer were associated with 1H-MRS parameters. ? 2015 Elsevier Inc.