Risk-Based Breast Screening in Young Women

The incidence of breast cancer in women aged 45 to 49 is not much lower than in women aged 50 to 54. However, while the Italian Health System offers mammography screening to all women aged 50 to 69 every two years, women aged 45 to 49 are invited for annual mammography screening in only a few regions. Breast density, i.e. the amount of fibroglandular tissue, more present in young women, decreases the performance of mammography by reducing the detectability of breast cancer; consequently, breast cancer in women with dense breasts can often be found only when it is larger and thus at a more advanced stage. In addition, breast density is an independent risk for breast cancer. The RIBBS study was designed to use the first round of screening to identify women with dense breasts and those at increased risk of breast cancer, and use this information to tailor the subsequent screening protocol, including supplemental US imaging for women with dense breasts, and establishing the frequency of screening cycles according to risk category. The reference imaging is digital breast tomosynthesis, which has already demonstrated greater sensitivity than digital mammography in the "standard" screening age (50-69). Volumetric breast density (VBD) is calculated from DBT, and lifetime risk (LTR) is obtained from the Tyrer-Cuzick risk model which also includes breast drnsity as a risk factor. After the first round of screening, women are divided into five groups: women with non-dense breasts and low breast cancer risk are screened every two years with DBT alone; women with dense breasts and low breast cancer risk are screened every two years with DBT plus additional ultrasound (DBT+US); women with non-dense breasts and intermediate risk of breast cancer are screened annually with DBT alone; women with dense breasts and intermediate risk of breast cancer are screened annually with DBT+US; finally, high-risk women with a family history of breast cancer (w/wo hereditary factors) are monitored with annual MRI and tomosynthesis. Our study hypothesizes that a screening model stratified by breast density and risk is more effective and sustainable in reducing the incidence of advanced breast cancer than standard annual mammography screening.