Reversed cerebral asymmetry in women with breast cancer

Lancet. 1992 Feb 29;339(8792):523-4. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)90341-y.

Abstract

Altered intrauterine hormonal environment might predispose to both atypical cerebral asymmetry and breast cancer. We therefore investigated computed tomographic scans of 79 right-handed, white patients with breast cancer and 97 controls to assess the pattern of cerebral asymmetry. Women with breast cancer had a reversed pattern of cerebral asymmetry significantly more often than did controls (p less than 0.0001 for both frontal and occipital width. Our findings suggest that an intrauterine or early life factor, probably hormonal, could predispose to breast cancer in adulthood.

MeSH terms

  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / physiology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Risk Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones