J Norum1, T Andreassen. 1. Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Tromsø, Norway. jannorum@fagmed.uit.no
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Significant health care resources are today spent on diagnosing and treatment of early breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 98 consecutive patients referred to our oncological unit between January 1997 and June 1998 underwent an evaluation programme including thoracic X-ray, liver and bone scan and blood test. When findings suspected for metastatic disease were revealed, further examinations (CT-scan, MRI) were performed. RESULTS: Whereas the screening programme disclosed four cases (4%) of distant metastasis, several patients had to suffer the psychological distress of false positive results. One in three suspicious thoracic X-rays, two in two liver scans and 18 out of 21 suspected bone scans were concluded false positive in terms of metastatic disease. A screening programme including blood test and thoracic X-ray alone, would have mis-classified one out of 98 patients. CONCLUSION: This study indicated thoracic X-ray and blood test as being sufficient and 110 Pounds per patient screened could be saved.
BACKGROUND: Significant health care resources are today spent on diagnosing and treatment of early breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 98 consecutive patients referred to our oncological unit between January 1997 and June 1998 underwent an evaluation programme including thoracic X-ray, liver and bone scan and blood test. When findings suspected for metastatic disease were revealed, further examinations (CT-scan, MRI) were performed. RESULTS: Whereas the screening programme disclosed four cases (4%) of distant metastasis, several patients had to suffer the psychological distress of false positive results. One in three suspicious thoracic X-rays, two in two liver scans and 18 out of 21 suspected bone scans were concluded false positive in terms of metastatic disease. A screening programme including blood test and thoracic X-ray alone, would have mis-classified one out of 98 patients. CONCLUSION: This study indicated thoracic X-ray and blood test as being sufficient and 110 Pounds per patient screened could be saved.
Authors: C Boutros; C Mazouni; F Lerebours; D Stevens; X Lei; A M Gonzalez-Angulo; S Delaloge Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2015-03-17 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Peter Rusch; Oliver Hoffmann; Anna-L Stickelmann; Stephan Böhmer; Regine Gätje; Karl G Krüger; Stefan Niesert; Andrea Schmidt; Rainer Kimmig Journal: Springerplus Date: 2016-07-07