Women with breasts of a different size and shape are more likely to develop breast cancer, a study has claimed.
In a study of the mammograms of 500 women, researchers found that women with less symmetrical breasts went on to contract breast cancer.
Lead researcher, Dr Diane Scutt, the director of research at Liverpool University's School of Health Sciences, looked at the difference in volume of the women's left and right breasts using the mammograms.
The University of Liverpool team also took into account other risk factors for breast cancer such as family disease when assessing the women's breast cancer risk factor.
They concluded that the chances of developing breast cancer increased by 50 per cent for every 100ml increase in the difference in volume of the women's breast.
Dr Scutt suggested that breast symmetry may be affected by the hormone oestrogen which is known to be a factor in the development of breast cancer.
The team published their findings in the journal Breast Cancer Research.