Clinical examination, mammographic findings and cytological diagnosis in patients with breast disorders. Results of 9 years' follow-up.
In January through March 1978, 482 consecutive patients sought advice and examination for different kinds of breast disorders at the Breast Unit of Radiumhemmet; 171 of them (32.8%) came without any prior known medical consultation. All patients were seen by a doctor and examined clinically; 385 underwent mammography and 196 fine-needle aspiration for cytology. Combined clinical and mammographic examination showed an estimated specificity with respect to 'breasts with no need of follow-up' of 77%. The corresponding sensitivity was 88%. Fine-needle aspirations showed an estimated specificity and sensitivity of 96% and 88% respectively. In the total material 26 malignant cases were found, of which 16 cancers were detected at the first examination. During a follow-up period of nine years, 10 additional breast cancers were found in the national cancer registry. This number could be compared to the expected number of 6.6 (SIR 1.52, 0.73-2.79) breast cancer cases if the studied women had had the same standardized incidence as the total female Swedish population. The mean number of visits to the Breast Unit was 1.6 for the 466 patients with benign disorders, of whom 322 had no need of follow-up. The mean follow-up time for these 482 patients was 113 days. During the follow-up time, 22 patients died. Ten patients, one of them with a breast cancer diagnosed, emigrated.
Rotstein
S
S
Department of Oncology, Danderyds Hospital, Sweden.
Nilsson
B
B
Svane
G
G
Gustavson-Kadaka
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity