Table 2 Distribution of breast cancer cases according to various patient, tumor and surgical unit characteristics, 2002 and 2004, Piedmont Region, Italy
N and% of patients | Effect of year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
2002 | 2004 | (p value) | |
Sample size (N) | 542 (49.6%) | 550 (50.4%) | |
Age (years) | |||
50–54 | 134 (24.7%) | 124 (22.5%) | 0.35 |
55–59 | 111 (20.5%) | 122 (22.2%) | |
60–64 | 166 (30.6%) | 151 (27.5%) | |
65–69 | 131 (24.2%) | 153 (27.8%) | |
Missing | 0 | 0 | |
Educational level | |||
Bachelor | 69 (12.7%) | 99 (18.0%) | 0.11 |
Secondary | 151 (27.9%) | 146 (26.5%) | |
Professional | 222 (40.9%) | 197 (35.8%) | |
Intermediate and primary | 85 (15.7%) | 88 (16.0%) | |
None and unknown | 15 (2.8%) | 20 (3.6%) | |
Pathological T stage | |||
In Situ | 62 (11.4%) | 55 (10.0%) | 0.54 |
1mic | 10 (1.8%) | 15 (2.7%) | |
1 | 4 (0.7%) | 5 (0.9%) | |
1a | 17 (3.2%) | 25 (4.5%) | |
1b | 75 (13.8%) | 85 (15.5%) | |
1c | 186 (34.3%) | 189 (34.4%) | |
2 | 147 (27.2%) | 136 (24.7%) | |
3 | 5 (0.9%) | 10 (1.8%) | |
4 | 5 (0.9%) | 5 (0.9%) | |
4a | 3 (0.6%) | 0 (0%) | |
4b | 18 (3.3%) | 15 (2.7%) | |
4c | 1 (0.2%) | 0 (0%) | |
4d | 2 (0.4%) | 2 (0.4%) | |
X | 4 (0.7%) | 2 (0.4%) | |
Missing | 3 (0.6%) | 6 (1.1%) | |
Pathological N stage | |||
0 | 205 (43.3%) | 158 (31.3%) | <0.01 |
Sentinel lymph node | 80 (16.9%) | 167 (33.1%) | |
1 | 21 (4.4%) | 37 (7.3%) | |
1a | 20 (4.2%) | 72 (14.3%) | |
1b | 7 (1.5%) | 3 (0.6%) | |
1b1 | 40 (8.4%) | 2 (0.4%) | |
1b2 | 7 (1.5%) | 3 (0.6%) | |
1b3 | 56 (11.8%) | 3 (0.6%) | |
1b4 | 11 (2.3%) | 3 (0.6%) | |
2 | 15 (3.2%) | 25 (5.0%) | |
3 | 0 | 23 (4.6%) | |
X | 9 (1.9%) | 6 (1.2%) | |
Missing | 2 (0.4%) | 2 (0.4%) | |
Pathological TNM stage | |||
In situ | 65 (12.0%) | 56 (10.2%) | 0.04 |
I | 189 (34.8%) | 233 (42.3%) | |
II A | 127 (23.4%) | 112 (20.4%) | |
II B | 75 (13.8%) | 53 (9.6%) | |
III or more | 47 (8.8%) | 65 (11.9%) | |
Missing | 39 (7.2%) | 31 (5.6%) | |
Grading (invasive only) | |||
Low | 58 (12.0%) | 82 (16.5%) | 0.09 |
Intermediate | 69 (14.4%) | 86 (17.4%) | |
High | 103 (21.5%) | 89 (18.4%) | |
Not performed and missing | 250 | 238 | |
Disease detected through regional screening program | |||
Yes | 208 (38.4) | 236 (42.9%) | 0.001 |
No, symptomatic | 209 (38.6%) | 171 (31.9%) | |
No, asymptomatic | 110 (20.3%) | 112 (20.4%) | |
Missing | 15 (2.8%) | 31 (5.6%) | |
Surgical unit annual case load | |||
< 50 | 124 (22.9%) | 126 (22.9%) | 0.001 |
50–149 | 249 (45.9%) | 250 (45.5%) | |
≥ 150 | 155 (28.6%) | 147 (26.8%) | |
Missing | 14 (2.6%) | 27 (4.8%) | |