Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review

The relationship between breast asymmetry, breast size and the occurrence of breast cancer
Scutt, D., Manning, J. T., Whitehouse, G. H., Leinster, S. J., Massey, C. P. British Journal of Radiology. 1997. 70:838, 1017-21.

Topic area
Body size
Body size
Study design
Hospital based case-control
Hospital based case-control
Funding agency
Other: Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust
Other: Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust

Study Participants
Number of Cases
250
250
Menopausal Status
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Post menopausal
Number of Controls
Control: 250
Control: 250
Country where study was conducted
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
In: Women who received cranio-caudal mammograms at the Breast Assessment Unit in Liverpool, and women age 50 to 75 years (postmenopausal)
Comment about participation selection
Strengths: Study focuses on breast asymmetry as a risk factor for breast cancer, and anthropometric data was taken directly from mammogram films (no bias) Limitations: Does not address any other exposures besides breast asymmetry
Strengths: Study focuses on breast asymmetry as a risk factor for breast cancer, and anthropometric data was taken directly from mammogram films (no bias) Limitations: Does not address any other exposures besides breast asymmetry

Exposure Investigated
Exposures investigated
Breast asymmetry
Breast asymmetry
How exposure was measured
Medical record
Medical record
Exposure assessment comment
Lack of variation
Lack of variation
Breast cancer outcome investigated
Primary breast cancer
Primary breast cancer
Ethnic groups with separate analysis
If this study provided a separate analysis by ethnic or racial group, the groups are listed here.
No
Confounders considered
Other breast cancer risk factors, such as family history, age at first birth, and hormone replacement therapy use, that were taken into account in the study.
Adequately controlled, Confounders: none
Genetic characterization included
If the study analyzed relationships between environmental factors and inherited genetic variations, this field will be marked “Yes.” “No”, if not.
No

Author address
Department of Medical Imaging, School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK.
Department of Medical Imaging, School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK.