Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jun 2000
[Alterations of stage distribution for breast cancer since the implementation of national screening program in the Netherlands during 1989-1995].
To determine the results of the nation-wide breast cancer screening on the basis of the stage distribution of diagnosed breast cancer 1989-1995. ⋯ When the implementation scheme of the national screening programme is taken into account, the results are indicative of a reduction in breast cancer mortality. Whether such a mortality reduction actually will follow, has to be awaited.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jun 2000
Comment[Nationwide breast cancer screening fully accomplished; results from the implementation phase 1990-1997. National Evaluation Team for Breast Cancer Screening].
To present an overview of the main results of the nationwide breast cancer screening programme implemented in the Netherlands from 1990 to 1997 and providing a biennial mammography for all women aged 50-69 years. ⋯ Of almost 4 million women invited, 78.5% attended for screening. The screening resulted in 13.1 referrals, 9.2 biopsies and 6.1 breast cancers detected per 1,000 initially screened women, and in 6.9 referrals, 4.5 biopsies and 3.5 detected breast cancers per 1,000 subsequently screened women. All these parameters showed a clear variation at regional level. In the first 2 years after initial screens 0.96 interval cancers per 1,000 women-years were diagnosed (0.93 per 1,000 women-years after subsequent screens). Of all screen-detected cancers 76% were ductal carcinomas in situ (13%) or invasive cancers < or = 20 mm in size (63%); 26% of the invasive cancers were lymph node positive. This stage distribution was clearly more favourable than that of interval cancers and of the breast cancers diagnosed in unscreened women. The detection of breast cancer at subsequent screening was lower than expected and the staging of the carcinomas was less favourable than expected; the other results were largely in accordance with the expectations.