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Diagnostic delay in moderately/poorly differentiated breast cancer types.
Constanze Elfgen1,2, Sabrina Baumgartner3, Zsuzsanna Varga4
1Department of Breast Surgery, Breast-Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Summary
Triple-negative breast cancer patients face higher risks of diagnostic delays due to false-negative assessments. This highlights the need for improved clinical risk factor evaluation and provider training for better breast cancer outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Diagnostics
- Breast Cancer Research
Background:
- Diagnostic delays in breast cancer, often due to healthcare provider misdiagnosis, can lead to tumor progression and poorer patient outcomes.
- While factors influencing diagnostic delays have been studied, the role of tumor biology, particularly in poorly differentiated breast cancers, remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in diagnostic delay among various subtypes of poorly differentiated breast cancer.
- To identify factors associated with diagnostic delays, with a specific focus on tumor biology.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 970 patients aged 40+ with newly diagnosed moderately/poorly differentiated (G2/3) breast cancer.
- Evaluation of breast cancer type, diagnostic delay, clinical factors, and physician assessment.
- Multivariate analysis to determine factors associated with diagnostic delay.
Main Results:
- A diagnostic delay occurred in 3.8% of patients, with a mean delay of 128 days; 43.2% showed clinically relevant tumor growth.
- Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) exhibited significantly higher diagnostic delay rates (9.9%) compared to other subtypes (P < 0.001).
- No correlation was found between diagnostic delay and age, breast density, or reason for presentation.
Conclusions:
- Patients with triple-negative breast cancer are at increased risk for false-negative assessments and subsequent diagnostic delays.
- The findings underscore the importance of considering clinical risk factors and enhancing provider education.
- A broader recommendation for core needle biopsy is suggested to mitigate diagnostic delays.
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