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Breast cancer among radiologic technologists

J D Boice1, J S Mandel, M M Doody

  • 1Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

JAMA
|August 2, 1995
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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This study found no increased breast cancer risk for radiologic technologists. Established risk factors, not occupational radiation exposure, explained most cases in this large cohort.

Area of Science:

  • Medical research
  • Epidemiology
  • Occupational health

Background:

  • Ionizing radiation exposure is a known risk factor for various cancers.
  • The specific risk of breast cancer among women in radiologic technology professions requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the association between occupational ionizing radiation exposure and breast cancer risk in women radiologic technologists.
  • To identify other potential risk factors for breast cancer in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted using a health survey of women radiologic technologists.
  • 528 breast cancer cases were matched with five control subjects each, based on age, certification year, and follow-up time.
  • Relative risk (RR) was estimated using relative odds ratios for breast cancer based on years worked and exposure characteristics.

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Main Results:

  • Established risk factors such as early menarche, nulliparity, family history of breast cancer, prior breast biopsy, alcohol consumption, thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism, and residence in the northeastern US were associated with increased breast cancer risk.
  • No significant increase in breast cancer risk was linked to jobs involving radiotherapy, radioisotopes, fluoroscopic equipment, or personal exposures to fluoroscopy or multifilm procedures.
  • Women working more than 20 years showed a relative risk of 1.13 (95% CI, 0.79 to 1.64), and cumulative radiation exposures appeared low.

Conclusions:

  • Established risk factors accounted for over 50% of the breast cancers observed in the study.
  • Employment as a radiologic technologist was not found to increase breast cancer risk.
  • The study suggests that prolonged exposure to relatively low doses of ionizing radiation in this occupational setting has a minimal, currently undetectable impact on breast cancer risk.