Breast cancer and induced abortion: a comprehensive review of breast development and pathophysiology, the epidemiologic literature, and proposal for creation of databanks to elucidate all breast cancer risk factors.

This article synthesizes breast developmental biology and pathophysiology which cause induced abortion to be a risk for breast cancer with the extant epidemiologic studies that differentiate induced and spontaneous abortions. These studies are rigorously statistically analyzed. It also outlines a proposal for the establishment of much-needed data banks that will be able to supply gold-standard prospective data for all breast cancer risks. We recommend collecting longitudinal data though the use of National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC)-approved mammography centers, which can also be linked to a corresponding tissue bank. The data is greatly needed to control the cost of mass mammography screening by identifying those women who are at higher risk of breast cancer and in need of regular or early screening. It is the authors' hope that through this rigorously referenced review, analysis, and proposal that medical science will be advanced and both medical professionals and the lay public will understand the risks contributing to the continued epidemic of breast cancer both here and abroad.