title: Review of risk factors for the development of contralateral breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women treated for breast cancer have an increased risk for developing metachronous contralateral breast cancer (CBC). Patient perception of this risk is often overestimated and has been found to contribute to the decision to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. An individual's risk is dependent on both patient and tumor characteristics. This review examines and summarizes the current literature on the factors that affect CBC risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  English-language publications with the keyword "contralateral breast cancer" were identified through a MEDLINE literature search.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The global incidence of CBC is decreasing, a trend that is attributed to more effective adjuvant therapies. Patients with BRCA germ-line mutations demonstrate the highest risk for CBC. In the absence of known genetic mutations, patients with strong family histories who are diagnosed at young ages (<35 years) with estrogen receptor-negative index tumors appear to have a higher incidence of CBC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 4622 JCP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Ingrid M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Lizarraga
authors.forename: Sonia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Sugg
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Weigel
authors.forename: Carol E H
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Scott-Conner
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000209:etiology*; D044469:Racial Groups; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen
keywords: Breast cancer risk; Contralateral breast cancer; Second primary breast cancer