[Breast cancer in the county of Viborg during 1983-1989. A quality control study]

The aim of the present study was to compare the quality of treatment for breast cancer in Viborg County to that provided in the rest of Denmark during the period 1983 to 1989. Women younger than 70 years of age with the diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma and registered in the DBCG (Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group) were included, 435 from Viborg county and 11,434 from the rest of Denmark. No differences were found between the two patient-groups with regard to tumoursize, degree of anaplasia, number of axillary lymph nodes removed or number of positive lymph nodes. There were also no differences in overall survival or recurrence-free survival (RFS). It was concluded that the quality of treatment for breast cancer in Viborg County was equal to that in the rest of Denmark. Moreover, the magnitude of registration of breast cancer patients in the DBCG from Viborg county was evaluated. More than 90% of all breast cancer patients were registered.