Does a short cessation of HRT decrease mammographic density?
BACKGROUND
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is known to increase breast density, thus decreasing the sensitivity of cancer screening by mammography. Some authors recommend short cessation of HRT before mammography, but evidence showing the effect of such short cessation is limited. The purpose of this study is to examine whether a short cessation of HRT changes mammographic density.


METHODS
Forty-eight women taking HRT agreed to have mammograms taken before and after stopping HRT for 4 weeks. Mammographic density was measured by Wolfe's four-point classification, six-categorical visual scale and two different computer methods (interactive-thresholding and SMF). Density values of mammography before and after the cessation of HRT were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test for categorical variables and paired t-test for continuous variables. Changes in breast pain and tenderness during mammography, radiation dose, compression force, and breast thickness were also recorded.


RESULTS
No significant changes in mammographic density were observed by either visual or computer methods. There were no significant changes in breast pain or in tenderness on mammograms before and after the month's cessation of HRT. Radiographic measurements were not significantly altered by the 4-week cessation of HRT.


CONCLUSIONS
In this screening population, a 4-week cessation of HRT before mammograms did not significantly alter mammographic density.
Weaver
Kate
K
Reproductive Healthcare, Dean Terrace Family Planning Clinic, Edinburgh, UK.
Kataoka
Masako
M
Murray
Jean
J
Muir
Berenice
B
Anderson
Elaine
E
Warren
Ruth
R
Warsi
Iqbal
I
Highnam
Ralph
R
Glasier
Anna
A
D001940:Breast / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged