Variations in Breast Density and Mammographic Risk Factors in Different Ethnic Groups.

This study investigates variations in mammographic density by ethnic group in women attending the NHS breast screening programme in Greater Manchester. Density was estimated using VolparaTM and QuantraTM. Data was analysed for 651 Asian/Asian British, 416 Black/Black British, 394 Jewish origin, 181 'Mixed', 700 'Other' and a random sample of 10,000 women who declared their ethnic origin as White British or Irish. Age ranged from 46---84 years and mean BMI was 27.4﾿kg/m2. Fibroglandular volume VolparaTM was highest in women of Black/Black British origin 59.4﾿cm3 and lowest in Asian/Asian British women 47.9﾿cm3. After adjusting for a number of hormonal and other factors the magnitude of the difference between groups decreased, however, there were still a number of statistical differences between groups. Ethnic differences in mammographic density and personal factors may subsequently contribute to differences in breast cancer incidence.