Background. The risk for breast cancer and the sex hormone abnormaliti
es noted in breast cancer patients have been demonstrated in women wit
h upper body fat obesity. The objective of this study was to determine
if the visceral component of upper body fat obesity was correlated wi
th breast cancer risk. Methods. A case-control study of 40 consecutive
ly enrolled women with breast cancer and 40 community-based age, weigh
t, and waist circumference-matched control subjects was conducted. The
; areas of visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, and total fat were measured
using computed tomography at the L-4 vertebral body. Calculations of
relative risk for breast cancer were based on these fat compartments.
Results. Patients with breast cancer had a significantly greater visce
ral fat area (P = 0.01), visceral-to-total-fat area ratio (VT ratio) (
P < 0.001) and significantly lower subcutaneous-to-visceral-fat area r
atio (Sir ratio) (P < 0.001) compared with the matched controls. The r
elative risk for breast cancer increased with increasing VT ratio (les
s than or equal to 0.24 = 1.0; >0.24 = 9.5) (P < 0.0001) and decreasin
g SV ratio (greater than or equal to 3.64 = 1.0; <3.64 = 8.5) (P = 0.0
002). Conclusions. Visceral obesity, as assessed by computed tomograph
y, was a significant risk factor for breast cancer in women matched fo
r age, weight, and waist circumference. Comparing the VT ratio for bot
h groups, breast cancer patients had 45% more visceral fat compared wi
th matched control subjects.