[Early diagnosis of neoplasms in Baden-Württemberg]

In the Federal Republic of Germany an official cancer screening program was started on July 1, 1971. The following sites are included: for males rectum and prostate, for females breast, cervix uteri, corpus uteri, ovaries, rectum. Since January 1, 1975, in addition skin, male genitalia, bladder and kidneys are screened. The official reports only deal with suspects and not with confirmed cases. The cancer registry of Baden-Württemberg is particularly involved in evaluating the results of the screening program. Of all confirmed cancers of the cervix uteri more than 50 per cent are detected by screening. Non-invasive forms represent a little more than 50 per cent of the total. Approximately one case in six of cancer of the breast or cancer of the prostate is diagnosed by screening procedures. In all other sites the percentage is 5 or less. The participation in the program varies by age and sex. Half of the women in the age group from 30 to 44 participate in the program but only about 3 per cent in the group over 75. In males, the program is aimed at the higher age groups. The total expenditure of the social health insurance in 1976 was 63 billion DM, for all screening measures 403 million DM, that is 0.6 per cent of the total amount. The contribution of the program in relation to the total cancer incidence is discussed.