HIGHER BMI and thicker breast subcutaneous fat were linked to more malignant ultrasound characteristics in breast cancer, new findings reveal.
Exploring the Diagnostic Role of BMI and Breast Fat
Researchers retrospectively analyzed 1,670 breast cancer cases to explore how BMI and breast subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) relate to tumor aggressiveness and ultrasound findings. Among 470 patients, SFT was measured using both mammography and ultrasound, and results demonstrated a significant correlation between the two modalities (r=0.565, p<0.001). Patients with BMI≥24 kg/m² were more likely to display malignant ultrasound features, including irregular shapes and posterior shadowing. Both BMI and ultrasound-measured SFT correlated with these features, suggesting a shared diagnostic role in identifying potentially aggressive tumors. BMI Shows Greater Predictive Power Although both metrics were associated with malignancy, BMI proved more reliable for predicting tumor proliferation and invasiveness. Patients with higher BMI exhibited elevated Ki67 levels, an indicator of rapid cell growth. At a BMI threshold of 22 kg/m², mutation frequencies were higher, suggesting that even modest elevations in BMI may carry diagnostic implications.
By contrast, no significant differences in somatic mutation frequencies were found when stratifying by fat thickness. While breast SFT above 8.6 mm predicted certain malignant features with moderate accuracy, BMI provided a more consistent signal across multiple parameters.
Implications for Breast Ultrasound Assessment
These findings highlight the potential for integrating BMI and localized breast fat measurements into ultrasound-based diagnostic frameworks. Incorporating body composition markers may help clinicians better interpret ultrasound results, particularly in patients with obesity-related risk factors. However, BMI remains the stronger and more accessible predictor of malignancy in this context.
Reference: Wang S et al. BMI and Breast Subcutaneous Fat: Potential Indicators for Ultrasound Diagnosis of Breast Cancer? J Ultrasound Med. 2025; doi: 10.1002/jum.70096.
