Do screen-detected breast cancers have positive margins less often than clinically detected breast cancers?

Positive tumour margins after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) have been selected as one of the major quality criteria for the surgical treatment of localized primary breast cancer. The national guideline states that the rate of positive margins should not exceed 30% in ductal carcinoma in situ and 20% in invasive cancers. We aimed to determine whether BCS in women with screen-detected breast cancer (SDBC) will have positive margins less often compared with women with clinically detected breast cancer (CDBC).

New insights into the aetiology of scrotal cancer, a nationwide case-control study in the Netherlands.

Background: Although scrotal cancer is traditionally regarded as an occupational disease, there is increasing evidence that factors which are involved in cutaneous and genital carcinogenesis might play a role in the carcinogenesis of scrotal cancer.

Objective: This exploratory study aimed to detect exposures that might have an aetiological relation with scrotal cancer.

Methods: A nationwide population-based case-control study was conducted in the Netherlands.

Availability of stage at diagnosis, cancer treatment delay and compliance with cancer guidelines as cancer registry indicators for cancer care in Europe: Results of EUROCHIP-3 survey.

EUROCHIP (European Cancer Health Indicators Project) focuses on understanding inequalities in the cancer burden, care and survival by the indicators "stage at diagnosis," "cancer treatment delay" and "compliance with cancer guidelines" as the most important indicators. Our study aims at providing insight in whether cancer registries collect well-defined variables to determine these indicators in a comparative way. Eighty-six general European population-based cancer registries (PBCR) from 32 countries responded to the questionnaire, which was developed by EUROCHIP in collaboration with ENCR (European Network of Cancer Registries) and EUROCOURSE.

Histological type is not an independent prognostic factor for the risk pattern of breast cancer recurrences.

Invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) is less common than invasive ductal breast cancer (IDC) and appears to have a distinct biology. Inconsistent findings regarding disease-free survival (DFS) are probably due to the fact that histologic type is related to hormone receptor status. This study aims to determine whether the type of the primary breast cancer histology is an independent prognostic factor for DFS, the risk pattern of loco-regional recurrences and distant metastases (DM), and whether it is a prognostic factor for the site of DM.

Adherence to national guidelines for gastric cancer in the Netherlands: a retrospective population-based audit.

In May 2009, a new clinical practice guideline for gastric cancer was released in the Netherlands. To determine the impact of this guideline, we evaluated trends in patterns of care, thereby focusing on the use of perioperative chemotherapy, the adequacy of lymphadenectomy and the proportion of non-curative resections. For our evaluation, we retrospectively collected information from the Netherlands Cancer Registry on 2,511 patients diagnosed with primary adenocarcinoma of the stomach during the period July 2008-June 2010, excluding tumors of the cardia.

Incidence, survival and prevalence of myeloid malignancies in Europe.

Background: The Surveillance of Rare Cancers in Europe (RARECARE) project aims at increasing knowledge of rare cancers in Europe. This manuscript describes the epidemiology of myeloid malignancies (MMs), taking into account the morphological characterisation of these tumours.

Methods: We used data gathered by RARECARE on cancer patients diagnosed from 1995 to 2002 and archived in 64 European population-based cancer registries, followed up to 31st December 2003 or later.

Effect of adjuvant chemotherapy in postmenopausal patients with invasive ductal versus lobular breast cancer.

Background: On the basis of the lack of response of invasive lobular breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, we questioned the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy in relation to histology.

Patients And Methods: Women with primary nonmetastatic invasive ductal or (mixed type) lobular breast cancer, aged 50-70 years, diagnosed between 1995 and 2008, were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and followed until January 1, 2010. The patients were divided in two groups: one group receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy only and the other receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Comparison of 30-day, 90-day and in-hospital postoperative mortality for eight different cancer types.

Background: Various definitions are used to calculate postoperative mortality. As variation hampers comparability between reports, a study was performed to evaluate the impact of using different definitions for several types of cancer surgery.

Methods: Population-based data for the period 1997-2008 were retrieved from the Rotterdam Cancer Registry for resectional surgery of oesophageal, gastric, colonic, rectal, breast, lung, renal and bladder cancer.

Increased risks of third primary cancers of non-breast origin among women with bilateral breast cancer.

Background: This study examined the risk of third cancer of non-breast origin (TNBC) among women with bilateral breast cancer (BBC; either synchronous or metachronous), focussing on the relation with breast cancer treatment.

Methods: Risk was assessed, among 8752 Dutch women diagnosed with BBC between 1989 and 2008, using standardised incidence ratios (SIR) and Cox regression analyses to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of TNBC for different treatment modalities.

Results: Significant increased SIRs were observed for all TNBCs combined, haematological malignancies, stomach, colorectal, non-melanoma skin, lung, head and neck, endometrial, and ovarian cancer.

Rare thoracic cancers, including peritoneum mesothelioma.

Rare thoracic cancers include those of the trachea, thymus and mesothelioma (including peritoneum mesothelioma). The aim of this study was to describe the incidence, prevalence and survival of rare thoracic tumours using a large database, which includes cancer patients diagnosed from 1978 to 2002, registered in 89 population-based cancer registries (CRs) and followed-up to 31st December 2003. Over 17,688 cases of rare thoracic cancers were selected based on the list of the RACECARE project.

Modest improvement in 20 years of kidney cancer care in the Netherlands.

Aim: For an evaluation of the progress achieved in the field of kidney cancer care in the Netherlands in the last decades, we described trends in incidence, treatment, mortality and relative survival.

Methods: All adult patients newly diagnosed with kidney cancer between 1989 and 2009 (N=32,545) were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Age-standardised incidence and mortality rates were calculated.

Carcinoma of endocrine organs: results of the RARECARE project.

The rarity or the asymptomatic character of endocrine tumours results in a lack of epidemiological studies on their incidence and survival patterns. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence, prevalence and survival of endocrine tumours using a large database, which includes cancer patients diagnosed from 1978 to 2002, registered in 89 population-based cancer registries (CRs) with follow-up until 31st December 2003. These data give an unique overview of the burden of endocrine carcinomas in Europe.

Invasive extramammary Paget's disease and the risk for secondary tumours in Europe.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and survival of Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) and to describe the possible increased risk of tumours after EMPD. All invasive cases diagnosed between 1990 and 2002 were selected from the RARECARE database. Incidence was expressed in European standardized rates.

Improved guideline compliance after a 3-year audit of multidisciplinary colorectal cancer care in the western part of the Netherlands.

Background: From 2006 to 2008, an audit of the multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer patients in the western part of the Netherlands was carried out. We evaluated whether compliance with guidelines had improved.

Methods: All patients with newly diagnosed and surgically treated colon (n = 1,667) and rectal cancer (n = 544) stage I-III were evaluated.

Prognostic factors for locoregional recurrences in colon cancer.

Background: There is increased interest in locoregional recurrences of rectal cancer. Despite comparable locoregional recurrence rates in colon cancer, only a few studies on locoregional recurrences among colon cancer patients have been published. This study was designed to identify prognostic factors for locoregional recurrences among patients with colon cancer in the Netherlands.

Incidence and survival of rare urogenital cancers in Europe.

Background: The RARECARE project aims at increasing knowledge of rare cancers in Europe. This manuscript describes the epidemiology (incidence, prevalence, survival) of rare urogenital cancers, taking into account the morphological characterisation of these tumours.

Methods: We used data gathered by RARECARE on cancer patients diagnosed from 1995 to 2002 and archived in 64 European population-based cancer registries, followed up to December 31st, 2003 or later.

Rare cancers of the head and neck area in Europe.

The RARECARE project has proposed a different and more detailed grouping of cancers, based on localisation and histological type, in order to identify rare entities with clinical meaning. RARECARE gathered data on cancer patients diagnosed from 1978 to 2002 and archived in 76 population-based cancer registries, all of which had vital status information available up to at least 31st December 2003. This study provides incidence, prevalence and survival rates for rare head and neck epithelial (H&N) cancers.

Variation between hospitals in surgical margins after first breast-conserving surgery in the Netherlands.

Surgical margin status after first breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is used as a quality indicator of breast cancer care in the Netherlands. The aim is to describe the variation in surgical margin status between hospitals. 7,345 patients with DCIS or invasive cancer (T1-2,N0-1,M0) diagnosed between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009, who underwent BCS as first surgery, were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry.

Evaluation of the adherence to follow-up care guidelines for women with breast cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate adherence with follow-up criteria as suggested by the national guideline for breast cancer patients.

Method: Patients diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 in two hospitals were identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (n = 198). Compliance with the guideline was assessed retrospectively by extracting follow-up care data from patient files for a period of five years.

Spatial variation in stage distribution in colorectal cancer in the Netherlands.

Background: In the Netherlands the incidence of colorectal cancer has increased, mainly in the eastern part of the country. Patient delay due to unawareness or ignorance of symptoms and differences in use of diagnostic tools could have influence on the stage distribution. The aim of this study was to evaluate geographical differences in stage-specific incidence rates of colon and rectal cancer in the Netherlands.

Enhancing the quality of care for patients with breast cancer: seven years of experience with a Dutch auditing system.

Background: Hospitals in the Midwestern part of the Netherlands carried out a clinical audit to monitor the quality of breast cancer care during the years 2002-2008. Compliance with the National Guideline was investigated together with improvement in quality over time.

Methods: Patients with a malignancy of the breast (including ductal carcinoma in situ) participated in this study.