Survival after mitral valve replacement: rationale for surgery before occurrence of severe symptoms.

Background: This study was undertaken to evaluate survival after mitral valve replacement, with a focus on the impact of age and preoperative symptoms.

Methods: Survival was analyzed in 784 patients undergoing mitral valve replacement from 1980 through 2000. Relative survival was estimated by relating the observed survival to the expected survival in a cohort, comparable regarding sex, age group, and calendar period, in the general Swedish population.

Mammographic screening in women with a family history of breast cancer: some results from the Swedish two-county trial.

Background: The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of mammographic screening in women with a family history of breast cancer to those without. In the invited arm of a randomised trial of breast cancer screening, data on family history of breast cancer were available on 29.179 women aged 40-74 attending for screening.

The Swedish Two-County Trial twenty years later. Updated mortality results and new insights from long-term follow-up.

The benefit of invitation to mammographic screening observed in this trial is maintained as a highly significant 32% reduction in breast cancer mortality. Mammographic screening for breast cancer continues to save lives after up to 20 years. Screening derives this benefit by improving the distribution of tumors diagnosed with respect to prognostic categories based on node status, size, and histology of tumors.

Primary and adjuvant therapy, prognostic factors and survival in 1053 breast cancers diagnosed in a trial of mammography screening.

Background: As mammographic screening becomes more widespread, larger numbers of tumours are diagnosed while small and node negative.

Methods: We examined detection mode, tumour size, node status, histological type, therapy and outcome in 1053 breast cancers diagnosed in one county of the Swedish Two-County Trial of mammographic screening for breast cancer.

Results: Of patients undergoing total mastectomy with axillary dissection, 65% were found to be node negative.

Survival after rectal cancer: differences between hospital catchment areas. A nationwide study in Sweden.

Background: The quality of rectal cancer surgery at small units has been debated. No national studies of this issue have been undertaken and most studies have been based on insufficient data to clarify the controversy. It has been claimed that observed differences in outcomes between specialised centres and smaller hospitals are confounded by differences in stage/severity.