Comparison of clinical and pathological characteristics between screen-detected and self-detected breast cancers: a Hong Kong study

• Published in: Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 202 - 209
• Main Authors: Lau, S Ss, Cheung, P Sy, Wong, T T, Ma, M Kg, Kwan, W H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Hong Kong Academy of Medicine 01-06-2016
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Breast Self-Examination; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - pathology; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - therapy; Confounding (Statistics); Cost analysis; Data analysis; Early Detection of Cancer - statistics & numerical data; Female; Histology; Hong Kong; Hospitals; Humans; Logistic Models; Lumpectomy; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphatic system; Mammography; Mastectomy; Medical prognosis; Medical screening; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Patients; Population; Prognosis; Regression analysis; Retrospective Studies; Surgery; Trends; Tumors; Womens health; Young Adult; Hong Kong China; United States > US; China; Breast self-examination; Mammography; Breast neoplasms/diagnosis
• ISSN: 1024-2708; 2226-8707
• DOI: 10.12809/hkmj154575

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.
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.
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.
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.