Type of breast cancer diagnosis, screening, and survival.
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer screening is known to reduce mortality. In the present study, we analyzed the prevalence of breast cancers detected through screening, before and after introduction of an organized screening, and we evaluated the overall survival of these patients in comparison with women with an extrascreening imaging-detected breast cancer or those with palpable breast cancers.


METHODS
We collected data about all women who underwent a breast operation for cancer in our department between 2001 and 2008, focusing on type of tumor diagnosis, tumor characteristics, therapies administered, and patient outcome in terms of overall survival, and recurrences. Data was analyzed by R (version 2.15.2), and P < .05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
Among the 2070 cases of invasive breast cancer we considered, 157 were detected by regional mammographic screening (group A), 843 by extrascreening breast imaging (group B: 507 by mammography and 336 by ultrasound), and 1070 by extrascreening breast objective examination (group C). The 5-year overall survival in groups A, B, and C were, respectively, 99% (95% CI, 98%-100%), 98% (95% CI, 97%-99%), and 91% (95% CI, 90%-93%), with a significant difference between the first 2 groups and the third (P < .05) and a trend between groups A and B (P = .081).


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of invasive breast cancer with screening in our population resulted in a survival gain at 5 years from the diagnosis, but a longer follow-up is necessary to confirm this data.
Clinic of Surgery, University of Udine, Udine, Italy. Electronic address: sere_d.estate@libero.it.
Carla
C
Cedolini
Clinic of Surgery, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Serena
S
Bertozzi
Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Ambrogio P
AP
Londero
Department of Surgery, Ospedale Civile di Latisana, Udine, Italy; Department of Surgery, AOU "Santa Maria della Misericordia," Udine, Italy.
Sergio
S
Bernardi
Clinic of Surgery, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Luca
L
Seriau
Clinic of Surgery, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Serena
S
Concina
Clinic of Surgery, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Federico
F
Cattin
Clinic of Surgery, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Andrea
A
Risaliti
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
Breast cancer; Breast cancer screening; Invasive breast cancer; Mammographic screening; Overall survival