title: Radiation and breast cancer: a review of current evidence.
abstract: This paper summarizes current knowledge on ionizing radiation-associated breast cancer in the context of established breast cancer risk factors, the radiation dose-response relationship, and modifiers of dose response, taking into account epidemiological studies and animal experiments. Available epidemiological data support a linear dose-response relationship down to doses as low as about 100 mSv. However, the magnitude of risk per unit dose depends strongly on when radiation exposure occurs: exposure before the age of 20 years carries the greatest risk. Other characteristics that may influence the magnitude of dose-specific risk include attained age (that is, age at observation for risk), age at first full-term birth, parity, and possibly a history of benign breast disease, exposure to radiation while pregnant, and genetic factors.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NIH, HHS, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. ronckerc@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Cécile M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ronckers
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Erdmann
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Land
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D012307:Risk Factors