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Multifocal Breast Cancer in Young Women with Prolonged Contact between Their Breasts and Their Cellular Phones

Case Rep Med · 2013 · Harm · Very low evidence

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HarmVery low evidencePaper 2743

Four young women who carried smartphones directly against their breasts for prolonged periods developed multifocal breast cancer in the areas underlying phone contact. All had no known genetic or family risk factors and tumors showed similar morphology.

Study snapshot

PublicationCase Rep Med · 2013
Study typecase_report
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

Breast cancer occurring in women under the age of 40 is uncommon in the absence of family history or genetic predisposition, and prompts the exploration of other possible exposures or environmental risks. We report a case series of four young women-ages from 21 to 39-with multifocal invasive breast cancer that raises the concern of a possible association with nonionizing radiation of electromagnetic field exposures from cellular phones. All patients regularly carried their smartphones directly against their breasts in their brassieres for up to 10 hours a day, for several years, and developed tumors in areas of their breasts immediately underlying the phones. All patients had no family history of breast cancer, tested negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2, and had no other known breast cancer risks. Their breast imaging is reviewed, showing clustering of multiple tumor foci in the breast directly under the area of phone contact. Pathology of all four cases shows striking similarity; all tumors are hormone-positive, low-intermediate grade, having an extensive intraductal component, and all tumors have near identical morphology. These cases raise awareness to the lack of safety data of prolonged direct contact with cellular phones. Effect: harm

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecase_report
Effect directionharm
Populationyoung women aged 21 to 39 with no family history or genetic predisposition for breast cancer
Sample size4
Exposureup to 10 hours a day for several years, direct contact with breast
Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 20% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Four young women who carried smartphones directly against their breasts for prolonged periods developed multifocal breast cancer in the areas underlying phone contact. All had no known genetic or family risk factors and tumors showed similar morphology.

Outcomes measured

  • multifocal invasive breast cancer in areas of breast underlying phone contact
  • hormone-positive, low-intermediate grade tumors with extensive intraductal component

Limitations

  • small sample size (case series of 4)
  • no control group
  • cannot establish causality
  • possible confounding factors not ruled out
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "case_report",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "cellular phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "up to 10 hours a day for several years, direct contact with breast"
  },
  "population": "young women aged 21 to 39 with no family history or genetic predisposition for breast cancer",
  "sample_size": 4,
  "outcomes": [
    "multifocal invasive breast cancer in areas of breast underlying phone contact",
    "hormone-positive, low-intermediate grade tumors with extensive intraductal component"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Four young women who carried smartphones directly against their breasts for prolonged periods developed multifocal breast cancer in the areas underlying phone contact. All had no known genetic or family risk factors and tumors showed similar morphology.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "small sample size (case series of 4)",
    "no control group",
    "cannot establish causality",
    "possible confounding factors not ruled out"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.2,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "breast cancer",
    "cellular phone",
    "nonionizing radiation",
    "EMF exposure",
    "case series",
    "young women"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study involves prolonged contact with cellular phones and potential health effects."
    }
  ]
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1155/2013/354682
PubMed: 24151509

Read the original paper →

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