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Relation between mammary cancer growth kinetics and the intervals between screenings
Author(s) -
Heuser Louis,
Spratt J. S.,
Polk Hiram C.,
Buchanan Jerry
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197903)43:3<857::aid-cncr2820430312>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer , oncology , kinetics , relation (database) , physics , quantum mechanics , database , computer science
The purpose of this study was to consider the time interval for periodic mammographic screening for breast cancer. One hundred fifteen breast cancers occurring in 10,128 women receiving over 30,000 mammograms over a four year period were reviewed. Tumors were diagnosed at three time intervals: 1) first screening (39/115); 2) annual examination (27/115); and 3) at an examination that occurred less than twelve months from a previous annual examination (10/115). Also, there were tumors that grew to palpable dimensions and were self‐detected between annual examinations (39/115). Our opinion is that screening intervals should be individualized to each patient according to risk factors and suspicious mammographic findings. Further, there is a significant number of breast cancers that grow too fast to be detected effectively by annual mammography. Suspicious mammographic findings did not exist before these cancers reached palpable dimensions. Other risk factors characterizing the hosts who develop these fast growing cancers are yet to be determined. Cancer 43:857–862, 1979.