title: Comparison of clinical and pathological characteristics between screen-detected and self-detected breast cancers: a Hong Kong study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is the leading cause of death of Hong Kong women with increasing incidence. This study aimed to determine any prognostic differences between screen-detected and self-detected cases of breast cancer in a cohort of Hong Kong patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case series with internal comparison carried out in a private hospital in Hong Kong. Approximately 3000 cases of Chinese patients diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive breast cancer were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The screen-detected group showed better pathological characteristics than the self-detected group. Number of lymph nodes involved, invasive tumour size, and tumour grade were more favourable in the screen-detected group. There was also a lower proportion of patients with pure invasive ductal carcinoma and mastectomy in the screen-detected group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides indirect evidence that women in the local population may gain clinical benefit from regular breast cancer screening. The findings need to be validated in a representative population of Hong Kong women.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics & Research Department, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: S Ss
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Breast Care Centre, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: P Sy
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Breast Care Centre, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Breast Care Centre, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: M Kg
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kwan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016504:Breast Self-Examination; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008327:Mammography; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Breast neoplasms/diagnosis; Breast self-examination; Mammography