Breast carcinoma in young women previously treated for Hodgkin disease

The increased risk of a second malignant neoplasm developing after treatment for Hodgkin disease is well documented. Subsequent development of breast cancer in women who have been treated for Hodgkin disease is a relatively rare association. To date, no reports of the mammographic detection of breast cancer in this group of women have been published. We report six patients who developed seven breast cancers after treatment for Hodgkin disease. The average age of the women at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer was 33.5 years; diagnosis was made 10-23 years after treatment. There appears to be an increased prevalence of breast carcinoma in women who have been treated for Hodgkin disease. This association should receive further study to evaluate appropriate modifications in routine breast cancer screening for these women.