Increased diagnosis and detection rates of carcinoma in situ of the breast

The purpose of this study was to identify trends in the diagnosis of carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the breast in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and to examine the impact of mammography. Data on cases of newly diagnosed CIS of the breast and mode of detection (screen detected or not) were obtained, where available, from regional cancer registries between 1990 and 2007. Age-standardised diagnosis rates for the UK and the ROI, and regional screen detected diagnosis rates were compared by calculating the annual percentage change (APC) over time. The APC of the diagnosis rate amongst women aged 50–64 years (original screening age group) showed a significant 5.9% increase in the UK (1990–2007) and 11.5% increase in the ROI (1994–2007). The rate of diagnosis (50–64 years) stabilized in the UK between 2005 and 2007 and was substantially higher than in other western populations with national screening programmes. The APC of the diagnosis rate amongst those aged 65–69 years showed a significant 12.4% increase in the UK (1990–2007) and 10.3% increase in the ROI (1994–2007). amongst women aged 50–74 years in the UK, approximately 4,300 cases of CIS (≈90% ductal carcinoma in situ) were diagnosed in 2007. Our analyses have shown that screen detected CIS contributed primarily to the increase in diagnosis of CIS of the breast. The high diagnosis rate of screen detected CIS of the breast underlines the need for further research into lesion and patient characteristics that are related to progression of CIS to invasive disease to better target treatment.