[Breast cancer screening: have there been any changes during the last decade? A study in a Spanish unit]

Breast screening programs in Spain cover almost 100% of population. The objective of the present study was to analyze if there have been any changes during the last decade in our breast screening unit (Unidad de Prevención del Cáncer de Mama de Castellón) that can also be extrapolated to other breast screening units.

We conducted a retrospective and descriptive analysis reviewing patients seen in our breast screening unit between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2009. Patients with a final diagnosis of carcinoma, year of diagnosis, age, histological type, infiltration, surgical procedure and tumor extension were analyzed.

A total of 311 breast cancers were diagnosed among 90,010 women who were seen at our breast screening unit. Mean age of the patients was 56 years. A progressive increase of the target population was seen (24,004 persons in 2000 and 31,950 in 2009). Histological type, percentage of infiltrative tumors and lymph node involvement did not show significant differences by year. Differences were observed for tumor size (pT category of TNM classification) and breast conservation surgery.

Tumor stage in cancers diagnosed in breast screening units progressively decreased when the program was being implemented. There is a maximum level among which tumor characteristics remain constant. Changes in screening programs can modify these characteristics.