Aims and objectives
The risk of breast cancer increases with age Fig. 1 ,
thus more than 30% of breast cancers are diagnosed in women 70 years old or older [1].
Even though the American Cancer Society recommends that screening mammography should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 more years or longer,
the U.S.
Preventive Service Task Force recently stated that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening mammography in...
Methods and materials
This retrospective study was performed in a university referral hospital for breast diseases.
All the women aged 70 years or older who received a diagnosis of breast cancer in the period from the 1st January 2015 to the 30th June 2015 in our Institute were included.
The whole sample was splitted in two groups,
one composed by symptomatic patients,
the other by asymptomatic (screening) patients.
Mammography examinations were performed with digital systems (SD and 3DL,
Giotto IMS,
Bologna,
Italy),
and included cranio-caudal and medio-lateral oblique...
Results
In the period from the 1st January 2015 to the 30th June 2015,
67 women aged 70 years or older with a newly diagnosed breast cancer were identified.
The mean age of patients was 77.1 years (range 70 – 91 years).
Of these patients,
28 were asymptomatic (41.8%,
mean age 75.3 years),
while 39 had symptoms (58.2%,
mean age 78.3 years): 33 were affected by a palpable mass,
1 by an ulcerated lump,
3 by a sore nodule and 2 by a pathologic nipple discharge...
Conclusion
In our experience,
the mean diameter of breast cancers in symptomatic patients was superior than in screening patients,
and the difference was statistically significant.
Moreover,
the mean diameter found in symptomatic patients,
both with mammography and ultrasound,
correspond to a T2 stage according to TNM,
while the mean diameter found in screening patients correspond to a T1 stage.
Thus,
the difference found is not only statistically,
but also clinically significant.
This finding is concordant with previously published papers [5] [7] [8],
and is crucial in...
Personal information
Michele Lorenzon,
MD
Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine (IT)
Presidio Ospedaliero Santa Maria della Misericordia
Imaging Department
Institute of Radiology
p.le Santa Maria della Misericordia,
33100,
Udine
+39 0432 559232
[email protected]
Adriana Nitti,
MD
Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine (IT)
Presidio Ospedaliero Santa Maria della Misericordia
Imaging Department
Institute of Radiology
p.le Santa Maria della Misericordia,
33100,
Udine
+39 0432 559232
[email protected]
Elisa Cimino,
MD
Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine (IT)
Presidio Ospedaliero Santa Maria della Misericordia
Imaging Department
Institute of Radiology...
References
[1] Jemal A,
Ward E,
Thun MJ.
Recent trends in breast cancer incidence rates by age and tumor characteristics among U.S.
women.
Breast Cancer Res 2007;9:R28
[2] Siu AL.
Screening for breast cancer: U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.
Ann Intern Med 2016;164:279-296
[3] Punglia RS,
Hughes KS,
Muss HB.
Management of older women with early-stage breast cancer.
2015 ASCO educational book – http://meetinglibrary.asco.org/content/115000048-156 accessed September 10th,
2016
[4] Dimitrakopoulos FD,
Kottorou A,
Antonacopoulou AG,
et al.
Early-stage breast cancer in the elderly: confronting...