Search results for "Overdiagnosis"

2017

Purpose BRCA1/2 mutations increase the risk of breast and prostate cancer in men. Common genetic variants modify cancer risks for female carriers of BRCA1/2 mutations. We investigated—for the first time to our knowledge—associations of common genetic variants with breast and prostate cancer risks for male carriers of BRCA1/ 2 mutations and implications for cancer risk prediction. Materials and Methods We genotyped 1,802 male carriers of BRCA1/2 mutations from the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 by using the custom Illumina OncoArray. We investigated the combined effects of established breast and prostate cancer susceptibility variants on cancer risks for male carriers of…

Diagnostic, prognostic and predictive value of cell-free miRNAs in prostate cancer: a systematic review

2016

Prostate cancer, the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in males worldwide, is estimated to be diagnosed in 1.1 million men per year. Introduction of PSA testing substantially improved early detection of prostate cancer, however it also led to overdiagnosis and subsequent overtreatment of patients with an indolent disease. Treatment outcome and management of prostate cancer could be improved by the development of non-invasive biomarker assays that aid in increasing the sensitivity and specificity of prostate cancer screening, help to distinguish aggressive from indolent disease and guide therapeutic decisions. Prostate cancer cells release miRNAs into the bloodstream, where they exist …

Focal lesions in cirrhosis: Not always HCC.

2017

Even though most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) develop in the setting of cirrhosis, numerous other focal liver lesions and pseudolesions may be encountered. The role of the radiologist is therefore to differentiate these lesions from HCC to avoid under- and overdiagnosis. There are several ways of classifying these lesions: those which predate the development of fibrosis and cirrhosis (cystic lesions, hemangioma), those related to or a consequence of cirrhosis (regenerative nodules, dysplastic nodules, focal fibrosis, peribiliary cysts, shunts, or even cholangiocarcinoma), and those related to the underlying cause of chronic liver disease (lymphoma). Finally, some may develop independentl…

Children may not benefit from neuroblastoma screening at 1 year of age. Updated results of the population based controlled trial in Germany

2003

Neuroblastoma is the second most frequent malignancy in childhood. We investigated whether screening for neuroblastoma at 1 year of age reduces the incidence of metastatic disease or mortality. Screening was offered in 6 of the 16 German states from 1995 to 2000 with the remaining states serving as controls. We studied 2,581,188 children in the screening area born between 1994 and 1999 and 2,117,600 in the control area. We compared mortality from neuroblastoma and the incidence of disseminated disease in the two groups. The screened group and the control group had similar rates of stage 4 neuroblastoma and mortality due to neuroblastoma. Comparison of the screened group and the control area…

Overdiagnosis and overimaging: an ethical issue for radiological protection

2019

Aims and objectives: This study aimed to analyse the key factors that influence the overimaging using X-ray such as self-referral, defensive medicine and duplicate imaging studies and to emphasize the ethical problem that derives from it. Materials and methods: In this study, we focused on the more frequent sources of overdiagnosis such as the total-body CT, proposed in the form of screening in both public and private sector, the choice of the most sensitive test for each pathology such as pulmonary embolism, ultrasound investigations mostly of the thyroid and of the prostate and MR examinations, especially of the musculoskeletal system. Results: The direct follow of overdiagnosis and overi…

The impact of overdiagnosis on thyroid cancer epidemic in Italy,1998-2012

2018

Aims: In Italy, incidence rates of thyroid cancer (TC) are among the highest world- wide with substantial intracountry heterogeneity. The aim of the study was to examine time trends of TC incidence in Italy and to estimate the proportion of TC cases potentially attribut- able to overdiagnosis. Methods: Data on TC cases reported to Italian cancer registries during 1998e2012 aged <85 years were included. Age-standardised incidence rates (ASR) were computed by sex, period, and histology. TC overdiagnosis was estimated by sex, period, age, and Italian region. Results: In Italy between 1998e2002 and 2008e2012, TC ASR increased of 74% in women (from 16.2 to 28.2/100,000) and of 90% in men (fro…

Increasing incidence and survival of paediatric and adolescent thyroid cancer in Cyprus 1998–2017: A population-based study from the Cyprus Pediatric…

2021

Paediatric and adolescent thyroid cancer incidence rates are increasing in many countries. We determined incidence rates, temporal trends and survival from thyroid cancer diagnosed in childhood and adolescence in Cyprus during 1998-2017.Patients aged 0-19 years, diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the Pediatric Oncology Registry of Cyprus were included. Crude incidence rates, age standardized rates, time trends and overall survival were analysed. Annual rates and temporal trends were calculated using Microsoft Excel 2016 and Joinpoint regression analysis.Eighty-one cases (76.5 % female, 23.5 % male) were identified. The crude rates (per 100,000 persons) were for both sexes 2.00 (95 % CI 1.61, …

Plasma hTERT mRNA discriminates between clinically localized and locally advanced disease and is a predictor of recurrence in prostate cancer patients

2012

Since the introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, new prostate cancer (PCa) patients are diagnosed earlier and most have localized and locally advanced disease. Current diagnosis methods lack specificity and sensitivity, leading to overdiagnosis and overtreatment of patients with low-risk organ-confined localized disease. Therefore, new non-invasive molecular tools are needed to discriminate between localized and locally advanced disease.Plasma telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA levels were determined by qRT-PCR in 49 patients with localized and locally advanced PCa. Diagnostic accuracy and efficacy as a prognostic factor of biochemical recurrence of plasma hTERT…

Risk of thyroid as a first or second primary cancer. A population-based study in Italy, 1998–2012

2021

Abstract Background The number of patients living after a cancer diagnosis is increasing, especially after thyroid cancer (TC). This study aims at evaluating both the risk of a second primary cancer (SPC) in TC patients and the risk of TC as a SPC. Methods We analyzed two population‐based cohorts of individuals with TC or other neoplasms diagnosed between 1998 and 2012, in 28 Italian areas covered by population‐based cancer registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of SPC were stratified by sex, age, and time since first cancer. Results A total of 38,535 TC patients and 1,329,624 patients with other primary cancers were included. The overall SIR was 1.16 (95% CI: 1.12–1.21) for SPC i…

Active Surveillance in Prostate Cancer: Role of Available Biomarkers in Daily Practice

2021

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. The diagnosis is currently based on PSA levels, which are associated with overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Moreover, most PCas are localized tumours; hence, many patients with low-/very low-risk PCa could benefit from active surveillance (AS) programs instead of more aggressive, active treatments. Heterogeneity within inclusion criteria and follow-up strategies are the main controversial issues that AS presently faces. Many biomarkers are currently under investigation in this setting; however, none has yet demonstrated enough diagnostic ability as an independent predictor of pathological or clinical progression. This work a…