Population-based statistics for women diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer (United States).
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to use population-based information to describe the demographic and tumor characteristics of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) - the most aggressive form of this disease.


METHODS
IBC cases diagnosed during 1994 through 1998 were reported to 26 population-based cancer registries covering approximately 40% of the US population. Rates were expressed per 100,000 female population and age-adjusted to the 2000 US population. Ninety-five percent gamma confidence limits were estimated for the rates.


RESULTS
Among the 3626 women diagnosed with IBC during 1994-1998, the majority were 40-59 years old. Most tumors were diagnosed at a regional (68.9%) or distant (25.3%) stage and were poorly differentiated (49.4%). The rate of IBC was 1.3 per 100,000 for all races combined. Black women had the highest risk (1.6) and Asian and Pacific Islander women the lowest (0.7).


CONCLUSIONS
IBC is an extremely rare form of breast cancer. More precise diagnostic criteria are needed to distinguish it from less aggressive forms of the disease. Future studies should use a population-based design and collect detailed clinical information, including the presence of erythema, edema or peau d'orange appearance of the skin, and other clinical signs of disease.
Wingo
Phyllis A
PA
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, USA. pwingo@cdc.gov
Jamison
Patricia M
PM
Young
John L
JL
Gargiullo
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007249:Inflammation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology