Obesity and metabolic dysfunction correlate with background parenchymal enhancement in premenopausal women

Objective This study tested the hypothesis that obesity and metabolic abnormalities correlate with background parenchymal enhancement (BPE), the volume and intensity of enhancing fibroglandular breast tissue on dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Methods Participants included 59 premenopausal women at high risk of breast cancer. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. Metabolic parameters included dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry‐quantified body composition, plasma biomarkers of insulin resistance, adipokines, inflammation, lipids, and urinary sex hormones. BPE was assessed using computerized algorithms on dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Results BMI was positively correlated with BPE (r = 0.69; p