title: [Usefulness of self-examination of the breast and prevalent patterns of surgical approach].
abstract: To learn whether breast self-examination (BSE) leads to earlier diagnosis and whether this results in a larger utilization of breast-sparing procedures, we studied the effects of BSE practice and patterns of surgical care in a cohort of 1315 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Overall 511 (39%) reported some BSE practice, but only 109 (8%) did it regularly and in a way deemed correct by caring physicians. Patients reporting any practice of the exam had a greater chance (OR = 1.42, 95% Cl = 1.13-1.79) of being diagnosed with a primary tumour smaller than 2 cm. This effect was mostly evident in the subgroup reporting optimal BSE practice. About half the patients with a primary tumour smaller than 2 cm. still had radical surgery. Before advocating massive patient-oriented educational campaigns, priority should be given to physicians education and definition of treatment protocols aimed at assuring that best available care be delivered to most patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D015409:Mastectomy, Radical; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D016353:Self-Examination; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Utilità dell'autoesame del seno e modalità prevalenti di approccio chirurgico.