Exposure to low-dose radiation and the risk of breast cancer among women with a familial or genetic predisposition: a meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Women with familial or genetic aggregation of breast cancer are offered screening outside the population screening programme. However, the possible benefit of mammography screening could be reduced due to the risk of radiation-induced tumours. A systematic search was conducted addressing the question of how low-dose radiation exposure affects breast cancer risk among high-risk women.


METHODS
A systematic search was conducted for articles addressing breast cancer, mammography screening, radiation and high-risk women. Effects of low-dose radiation on breast cancer risk were presented in terms of pooled odds ratios (OR).


RESULTS
Of 127 articles found, 7 were selected for the meta-analysis. Pooled OR revealed an increased risk of breast cancer among high-risk women due to low-dose radiation exposure (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.9- 1.8). Exposure before age 20 (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.1) or a mean of ≥5 exposures (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1-3.0) was significantly associated with a higher radiation-induced breast cancer risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose radiation increases breast cancer risk among high-risk women. When using low-dose radiation among high-risk women, a careful approach is needed, by means of reducing repeated exposure, avoidance of exposure at a younger age and using non-ionising screening techniques.
Jansen-van der Weide
Marijke C
MC
Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. m.c.jansen@rad.umcg.nl
Greuter
Marcel J W
MJ
Jansen
Liesbeth
L
Oosterwijk
Jan C
JC
Pijnappel
Ruud M
RM
de Bock
Geertruida H
GH
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000009:adverse effects; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000235:genetics*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors