Cervix and Breast cancers are the most common cancers among women worldwide and extract a large toll in developing countries. In May 1998, supported by a grant from the NCI (US), the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, started a clusterrandomized, controlled, screening-trial for cervix and breast cancer using trained primary health workers to provide healtheducation, visual-inspection of cervix (with 4% acetic acid-VIA) and clinical breast examination (CBE) in the screening arm, and only health education in the control arm. Four rounds of screening at 2-year intervals will be followed by 8 years of monitoring for incidence and mortality from cervix and breast cancers. The methodology and interim results after three rounds of screening are presented here. Good randomization was achieved between the screening (n 5 75360) and control arms (n 5 76178). In the screening arm we see: High screening participation rates; Low attrition; Good compliance to diagnostic confirmation; Significant downstaging; Excellent treatment completion rate; Improving case fatality ratios. The ever-screened and never-screened participants in the screening arm show significant differences with reference to the variables religion, language, age, education, occupation, income and health-seeking behavior for gynecological and breast-related complaints. During the same period, in the control arm we see excellent participation rate for health education; Low attrition and a good number of symptomatic referrals for both cervix and breast.Of the estimated 470,000 new cases of cervix cancer diagnosed each year worldwide, 80% occur in developing countries and around 27% occur in India from where 126,000 new cases are diagnosed annually and over 71,000 deaths because of cervix cancer are reported each year.1,2 Nearly 70% of cervix cancer patients in India present at stages III and IV.3 Around 20% of women who develop cervix cancer die within the first year of diagnosis and the 5-year relative survival rate is 50%. 4 Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and is also the leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Breast cancer is responsible for an estimated 189,000 and 184,000 deaths in developed and developing countries respectively thus accounting for 16% and 12% of all cancer deaths in women. Although the age-standardized incidence of breast cancer is generally lower in developing countries than in developed countries (23.1 vs. 63.2 per 100,000 women), incidence rates are seen to vary widely between and within countries. Breast cancer is already more common than cervix cancer in a number of developing countries.5 Data from developing countries suggests that age-standardized incidence rates of breast cancer are rising rapidly in low-incidence regions such as Africa and Asia. 6 There are no organized screening programmes for cervix and breast cancers in India. Cervix Cytology and Mammography based screening programmes are difficult to organize in India because of issues related to absence of trained manpower, infrastructu...
Gestational trophoblastic disease is a condition of uncertain etiology, comprised of hydatiform mole (complete and partial), invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, and placental site trophoblastic tumor. It arises from abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue. Early diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease and its potential complications is important for timely and successful management of the condition with preservation of fertility. Initial diagnosis is based on a multimodality approach: encompassing clinical features, serial quantitative β-hCG titers, and pelvic ultrasonography. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is sometimes used as a problem-solving tool to assess the depth of myometrial invasion and extrauterine disease spread in equivocal and complicated cases. Chest radiography, body computed tomography (CT), and brain MRI have been recommended as investigative tools for overall disease staging. Angiography has a role in management of disease complications and metastases. Efficacy of PET (positron emission tomography) and PET/CT in the evaluation of recurrent or metastatic disease has not been adequately investigated yet. This paper discusses the imaging features of gestational trophoblastic disease on various imaging modalities and the role of different imaging techniques in the diagnosis and management of this entity.
Objectives: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of screening by low-cost technology in down-staging and reducing mortality due to breast and cervix cancer. Methods: The present trial is a community-based, cluster randomised controlled cohort study on screening for breast and cervix cancers (clinical breast examination and visual inspection of the cervix after application of 4% acetic acid). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses are conducted to identify the predictors of participation in screening. Results: The average compliance is 71.43 and 64.93% for breast and cervix cancer screening, respectively, with the highest compliance in round 1. At the end of 3 screening rounds, 94 and 84% of the eligible women were screened at least once for breast and cervix cancer, respectively. Younger women, women from other than Hindu and Muslim communities, school level-educated women, women belonging to lower-income families, Marathi-speaking women, married women and women who had previously consulted for any breast or gynaecological complaints had higher compliance to participation in screening. Conclusions: Good compliance rates to screening have been demonstrated in the trial, reflecting acceptance of the study by the society, which has implications while translating the trial into a programme.
Objectives: The study aims to investigate the efficacy of screening by low-cost technology in down-staging and reduction of mortality due to breast and cervix cancer. Methods: The present trial is a community-based, cluster randomised controlled cohort study on screening for breast and cervix cancers (clinical breast examination and visual inspection of the cervix after application of 4% acetic acid). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses are conducted to identify the predictors of compliance to referral among screen-positive women and to treatment among cancer cases. Results: The compliance to diagnostic investigations is 73% among screen-positive women referred for breast cancer and 79% among women referred for cervix cancer. Younger women, women working in service or being self-employed, school level-educated women, mother tongue Marathi, participation in screening in all 3 rounds and women referred as screen positive for cervix cancer had higher compliance to diagnostic investigations. The compliance to treatment completion is higher in women diagnosed with breast cancer, at 95%, compared to 86% for cervix cancers and 81% for cervix pre-cancers. Conclusions: Good compliance rates along with a proper system of referral, further investigations, confirmation of diagnosis and treatment as demonstrated in this trial are crucial for successful screening programmes.
High-resolution ultrasonography is a useful technique for diagnosing scrotal filariasis in symptomatic patients and is very useful in the follow-up period for assessing the response of worms to treatment.
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