Anthropometric and topometric characterization of patients with breast cancer

Background: Anthropometry is one of the simplest and most accessible methods. Breast cancer is largely associated with anthropometric indicators, such as weight, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist circumference.

Aims: To examine the anthropometric and topometric characteristics of the mammary glands of patients with breast cancer.

Materials and Methods: A total of 260 patients with breast cancer were examined from 2019 to 2021 in the Department of Onco-mammological Surgery of the A.I. Kryzhanovsky Krasnoyarsk Regional Oncological Dispensary. Anthropometric examination was conducted according to the classical method, and parameters such as height and weight were obtained. Organometric measurements were conducted according to the Body Logic System (Mentor Medical Systems B. V., USA), developed by Professor Dr. Hammond for Mentor, a silicone implant manufacturer.

Results: In the study group, the average height, weight, and body mass index were 163 (158–168) cm, 75 (65–86) kg, and 28.96 (24–32.87) kg/m2, respectively. A comparative analysis of the main anthropometric data of patients with breast cancer showed relatively higher body length values in the young adult group and conversely smaller values in women in the senile period, as well as the average body mass index and body mass index in the older group. In women, the average chest circumference of the mammary gland in the middle-aged group decreased by 9 cm in the older period and by 6 cm in the senile period. Similar changes were found in the chest circumference at the level of the nipples. In women, the average values in the middle-aged group decreased by 9.5 cm in the older period and by 4 cm in the senile period. The distance from the jugular notch to the nipple of the right breast showed significantly (p <0.05) higher values in the older group (by 6 cm) and senile group (by 4.7 cm) than in the young adult group and between the middle-aged group and older group (by 4 cm) and in the senile (by 2.7 cm) group. Similar changes were found on the left breast in the older group (by 5.75 cm) and senile group (by 5.25 cm) compared with young adult group and between the middle-aged group and older group (by 4 cm) and senile (by 3.5 cm) group. The distance from the level of the middle of the clavicle to the nipples showed significantly (p <0.05) lower values of the right and left mammary glands in the your adult group than in other age groups. The intermammary distance was significantly (p < 0.05) greater in the middle-aged group (by 0.5 cm) than in the older and senile groups.

Conclusion: Most studies on breast anthropometry focus on plastic surgery because clear anthropometric measurements of the breasts and their relative positions based on fixed skeletal and soft tissue landmarks are useful for assessing the condition of the patients preoperatively and for evaluating breast aesthetics postoperatively. Future studies in clinical practice should identify women with a high risk of breast cancer based on anthropometric parameters.