1. Two-month stop in mammographic screening significantly impacts on breast cancer stage at diagnosis and upfront treatment in the COVID era.
- Author
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Toss A, Isca C, Venturelli M, Nasso C, Ficarra G, Bellelli V, Armocida C, Barbieri E, Cortesi L, Moscetti L, Piacentini F, Omarini C, Andreotti A, Gambini A, Battista R, Dominici M, and Tazzioli G
- Subjects
- Aged, Breast Neoplasms epidemiology, Breast Neoplasms, Male diagnostic imaging, Female, Humans, Italy epidemiology, Lymphatic Metastasis diagnostic imaging, Male, Mammography statistics & numerical data, Mastectomy, Middle Aged, Neoadjuvant Therapy, Retrospective Studies, Time Factors, Breast Neoplasms diagnostic imaging, Breast Neoplasms pathology, Breast Neoplasms therapy, COVID-19, Mass Screening organization & administration
- Abstract
Introduction: The present analysis aims to evaluate the consequences of a 2-month interruption of mammographic screening on breast cancer (BC) stage at diagnosis and upfront treatments in a region of Northern Italy highly affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus., Methods: This retrospective single-institution analysis compared the clinical pathological characteristics of BC diagnosed between May 2020 and July 2020, after a 2-month screening interruption, with BC diagnosed in the same trimester of 2019 when mammographic screening was regularly carried out., Results: The 2-month stop in mammographic screening produced a significant decrease in in situ BC diagnosis (-10.4%) and an increase in node-positive (+11.2%) and stage III BC (+10.3%). A major impact was on the subgroup of patients with BC at high proliferation rates. Among these, the rate of node-positive BC increased by 18.5% and stage III by 11.4%. In the subgroup of patients with low proliferation rates, a 9.3% increase in stage III tumors was observed, although node-positive tumors remained stable. Despite screening interruption, procedures to establish a definitive diagnosis and treatment start were subsequently carried out without delay., Conclusion: Our data showed an increase in node-positive and stage III BC after a 2-month stop in BC screening. These findings support recommendations for a quick restoration of BC screening at full capacity, with adequate prioritization strategies to mitigate harm and meet infection prevention requirements., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors have declared no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2021
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