Biomedical subjects

M Zappa

Publications and source records attributed to M Zappa.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Colorectal cancer screening by fecal occult blood testing: results of a population-based experience.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The study evaluated the results of an experimental screening protocol for colorectal cancer by fecal occult blood testing in a municipality of the Province of Florence. METHODS: A total of 15,235 subjects aged 50-70 years were invited to perform a 1-day immunochemical fecal occult blood testing without any dietary restrictions. All eligible subjects were sent a personal invitation letter, followed by a postal reminder to non-responders. Subjects with a negative stool test were advised to repeat screening after 2 years. Subjects with a positive screening test were invited to undergo full colonoscopy or a combination of left colonoscopy and a double contrast barium enema. RESULTS: A total of 6,418 subjects performed the screening test, with an overall compliance of 42.1%. A total of 268 compliers had positive test results. The positivity rate was 4.2%. Detection rate for cancer and for adenomas was 5.1% and 11.6%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 14.3% for cancer and 32.5% for adenoma. A higher compliance was recorded in subjects born in the province of Florence or living in the centre of the town, in married subjects, and in women. The best results in compliance were associated with the direct distribution of fecal occult blood testing kits by general practitioners to their outpatients. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides useful information about the efficiency and feasibility of a screening program for colorectal cancer using fecal occult blood testing. Compliance results confirm the importance of GP involvement in oncological screening.

Aged↗

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Detection of false-negative Pap smears using the PAPNET system.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: False-negative cytological diagnoses represent the critical point of a screening program for early detection of cervical cancer. Computer-assisted reading using neural network technology has been suggested as a possible approach to manage the problem. The study assessed the performance and the cost-outcome ratio of computer-assisted versus conventional manual Pap smear reading. METHODS: One thousand routine smears, seeded with 81 false-negative smears, were independently interpreted by two readers by conventional and PAPNET-assisted reading. Results of both readings were compared in terms of: a)sensitivity for false-negative smears, b)specificity, and c) cost-outcome (cost per CIN2+ lesion detected). RESULTS: PAPNET-assisted reading showed a small increase in sensitivity only for one reader. Including the cost of PAPNET, the cost per detected lesion would be $7,543 and the cost per additional detected lesion would be $25,748. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides further evidence that PAPNET-assisted screening may allow the detection of a few extra cases of CIN2+ lesions with respect to conventional reading, though at a very high cost.

False Negative Reactions↗

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Carbon monoxide, cigarettes and family doctors.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: General practitioners could play a key role in preventive programs against tobacco-related diseases. However, they seldom take action in the office even with minimal advice counselling. Such behaviour might reflect the lack of academic teaching and the lack of practice with motivational and dependence questionnaires, considered basic tools to help smokers to quit successfully. The study was aimed to investigate the awareness of a sample of Italian family doctors as regards tobacco epidemiology and smoking cessation strategies. METHODS: A total of 428 family doctors were administered a questionnaire with a set of questions on their personal smoking habits and on personal initiatives in the office towards smokers. Another set of questions regarded their knowledge on tobacco issues, with special attention to carbon monoxide, which is widely perceived as a very dangerous poison and works as a motivational tool on smokers and adolescents. Carbon monoxide measurement was carried out on all participants to obtain objective data on smoking and to show the feasibility of the test. RESULTS: The percentage of self-reported current smokers among general practitioners was 24%, with a high prevalence of ex-smokers (46%), and 29% of never smokers. Family doctors were more keen to counsel adolescents than adults about tobacco, and they were very interested in continuing medical education on the issue. The doctors who took part in our study showed a surprising limited knowledge of all the issues associated with smoking cessation and prevention such as epidemiology, cigarette characteristics, success rate of smoking cessation programs, Fagerström's tolerance questionnaire, safety of nicotine replacement therapy and the knowledge of carbon monoxide as a product of cigarette smoke. CONCLUSIONS: The scenario depicted by our survey underscores the necessity to improve the knowledge and performance of primary care physicians on tobacco-related issues in order to implement primary and secondary prevention in clinical practice.

Adult↗

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Comparing two modalities of screening for prostate cancer: digital rectal examination + transrectal ultrasonography vs. prostate-specific antigen.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: To evaluate the performance and feasibility of screening for prostate cancer by comparing screening modalities. METHODS: Prospective study of two comparable cohorts of healthy resident males aged 60 to 75 years. Screening attenders in the two invited cohorts were screened either by digital rectal examination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), or by serum prostate-specific antigen determination (PSA: cutoff 4 ng/ml). Attendance and biopsy rates, predictive values, prevalence of screen-detected cancers, as well as screening costs were determined, and the efficiency of the two screening modalities was compared. RESULTS: 1425 subjects were screened by DRE+TRUS. Attendance rate was 33.7%, the biopsy rate was 2.7%, and the prevalence of detected cancers was 1.82%. A total of 1315 subjects was screened by PSA. Attendance rate was 66.9%, the biopsy rate was 2.8%, and the prevalence of detected cancers was 1.67%. Screen-detected cancer stage was more favorable than observed in clinical practice, and early detection was evident, with the prevalence/incidence ratio higher than 10:1 in both programs. The cost per subject screened was about 34,000 Lire for DRE+TRSU and about 30,000 Lire for PSA program. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms that early detection of prostate cancer is possible and that screening is practically feasible. Both screening modalities achieved comparable results as regards early detection, but screening by PSA had a higher compliance and lower costs. PSA seems the ideal test to be used in prospective controlled studies aimed at demonstrating screening efficacy.

Aged↗

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Trends in the prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 in the district of Florence, Italy.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the detection rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN 3) in previously unscreened women, in order to reveal trends over time in the prevalence of CIN 3 in the District of Florence, where a population-based screening for cervical cancer has been going on since 1973. STUDY DESIGN: We considered the women, recorded in the computerized archives of CSPO, who had had no pap test for at least 10 years. Trends of CIN 3 (histologically proven) were analyzed within age groups; the effect of age, cohort and period were considered by means of a Poisson regression model. RESULTS: A total of 648 cases of histologically proven CIN 3 were detected in the study period. The detection rates of CIN 3 increased steadly within age groups over birth cohort and calendar period simultaneously. The Poisson regression analysis showed that only the model with age + time trend was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Although several biases should be taken into account, the analysis seemed to indicate a real increase in CIN 3 prevalence. An increase in frequency of precancerous lesions for cervical cancer in more recent birth cohorts supports the need to keep screening coverage and efficiency as high as possible.

Adult↗

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A feasibility study of screening for endometrial carcinoma in postmenopausal women by ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal endometrial thickness assessed by ultrasonography has been reported as a reliable indicator for early asymptomatic endometrial carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated the feasibility and the performance of screening by ultrasonography in a consecutive series of postmenopausal volunteers. RESULTS: A total of 2,025 women were screened, and 117 (5.8%) showed abnormal endometrial thickness. Ninety-eight subjects consented to be assessed by outpatient endometrial biopsy, which was not possible in 32 for cervical stenosis. Three cancers were detected among 66 assessed subjects, 34 not-assessed subjects were controlled by repeat sonography (no change), and 17 were lost to follow-up. No other cancer was recorded by the local Cancer Registry among screened subjects. The prevalence/incidence ratio was 2.65:1, and the cost per screen-detected cancer was 18,571,000 Italian lire. CONCLUSIONS: Screening by endometrial sonography is feasible on a practical basis, but its efficacy needs to be proven by prospective controlled studies which would enroll large populations to ensure sufficient statistical power, considering the low incidence and the low lethality of the disease. Studies of screening for other carcinomas may be considered of higher priority.

Adult↗

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Long-term sequelae of breast cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Quality of care is today a major issue in oncology, and much attention is given to research on the outcome of breast cancer care. Too little attention has been devoted in the scientific literature to the consequences of treatment in long-term survivors, and in particular to the possible side effects. The specific aim of this contribution is to present population-based data about the long-term impact of breast cancer care in women who had an incident cancer in 1985/1986. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cases are 476 breast cancers incident in the City of Florence in 1985-86. Women still living 5 years later were invited to have an interview and a physical examination. Lymphedema, peripheral nerve lesions and damage to the shoulder were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 346 5-year survivors, 238 accepted our invitation: 35.2% of the women reported some early postoperative sequelae, 30.2% had a chronic lymphedema and 18.9% a shoulder deficit. Comparing breast-conserving surgery with radical mastectomy, the risk of chronic lymphedema (OR = 1.62; 95% C1: 0.91-2.88) and other lesions was higher for women who had a radical surgery. Women who had a breast-conserving surgery more often reported an early lymphedema (OR = 1.60; 95% Cl: 0.88-2.88). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of women who complained of (or manifested at the physical examination) a minor or major disability of the arm in our study was high. The impact of these functional problems in terms of quality of life should also be assessed, but it is our impression that there is need for much greater attention to the issue of long-term survivor sequelae.

Adult↗

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Time trends of benign/malignant breast biopsy ratios a multicenter Italian study.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Although they have been decreasing over time due to improved specificity of diagnostic assessment, benign biopsies of the breast are still common. Benign biopsies should be regarded as negative events, due to their economical and psychological cost and their possible negative impact on cosmesis and on further diagnostic evaluation. METHODS: Retrospective data on benign/malignant breast biopsies ratio (B/M) were collected in 9 Italian centers for a period of 10-15 years. The time trend of B/M and its association to age or to single centers was evaluated. RESULTS: Overall 31,001 cases were considered. A strong association of B/M to age was evident (average B/M values were 5.0, 1.3, 0.6, and 0.2 for women aged < 40, 40-49, 50-59, and > 59 years). A significant trend of decreasing B/M over time was observed only for one center. Age standardized B/M was significantly different (P < 0.000001) between centers, ranging between 0.34 and 1.69. Multivariate analysis confirmed an independent significant association of age and center to B/M. CONCLUSIONS: Marked differences in B/M are evident between centers, which cannot be explained by the confounding effect of age or by any apparent difference in the diagnostic protocol. The observed differences are likely ascribed to individual variations in diagnostic aggressivity. A progressive increase of the predictive value of calls for surgical biopsy may be achieved over time and centers with a high B/M should make every effort to optimize their performance. Acceptable (< 40 = 5, 40-49 = 1.5, 50-59 = 0.75, > 59 = 0.3) and desirable (2.5, 0.75, 0.35, 0.15) age specific reference standards for B/M are proposed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Colposcopy as a primary screening test for cervical cancer.

AIM AND BACKGROUND: To evaluate the cost effectiveness of screening by colposcopy compared to conventional cytology. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in the Florence District screening center on 3,000 consecutive women, self referring, who were examined by cytology and colposcopy in a blind fashion. Further assessment was based on cytologic report or on colposcopy-directed punch biopsy. Actual costs of the whole screening process were known. The cost effectiveness of different possible simulated screening scenarios was then determined. RESULTS: Overall, 18 high-grade lesions (CIN3 = 9, CIN2 = 9) were detected. Four different screening scenarios were compared, namely a) cytology alone, b) cytology + repeat smear for ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undeterminate significance) cases, c) colposcopy + cytology for cases of condyloma at punch biopsy, and d) colposcopy alone. Although they had a higher cost per examined woman (a) = 17.98, b) = 19.40, c) = 23.86, d) = 22.10 US$), scenarios c) and d) had a higher relative sensitivity (a = 44.4, b = 61.1, c = 100, d = 88.8%) and a lower cost per high-grade lesion detected (a = 6,743, b = 5,291, c = 3,977, d = 4,144 US$). CONCLUSIONS: Screening by colposcopy is a feasible procedure which is more sensitive and more cost effective than conventional cytology screening. At least in those settings where access to cytopathology may be difficult, screening by colposcopy should be considered as a possible alternative.

Adult↗

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Risk of endometrial cancer in breast cancer patients under long-term adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen.

AIMS: To evaluate the relative risk of endometrial cancer with respect to the expected underlying incidence in breast cancer patients undergoing long-term adjuvant tamoxifen therapy. METHODS: A total of 1010 postmenopausal breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen and with a first negative endometrial ultrasonography (cutoff for abnormal endometrial thickness >5 mm) were followed by annual transvaginal ultrasonography. Abnormal endometrial thickness prompted an outpatient endometrial biopsy or curettage under anesthesia in the case of cervical stenosis and increasing endometrial thickness. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) with respect to underlying incidence was determined. RESULTS: A total of 1,010 eligible subjects who had been receiving tamoxifen for an average of 51 months were enrolled and followed for a total of 2,361 patient-years between January 1993 and December 1996. Five cases of endometrial cancer were observed in the study period: 1 was detected at screening, and 4 were diagnosed for vaginal bleeding in the interval between screening examinations. SIR was 4.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-9.4) and increased to 4.8 (CI, 1.6-10.5) when the single cancer detected at first screening was considered as incident. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds evidence to the hypothesis that long-term tamoxifen treatment may be responsible for a relevant increase in the risk of developing endometrial cancer. Surveillance based on endometrial ultrasonography was poorly sensitive, but the favorable stage at diagnosis of screen-detected or interval endometrial cancers does not support a more aggressive screening approach.

Aged↗

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A first survey of organized cervical cancer screening programs in Italy. GISCi working group on organization and evaluation. Gruppo Italiano Screening Citologico.

In Italy, where no national screening program for cervical cancer exists, organized programs have developed on a local basis. We performed the first survey of existing organized programs by mailing a standard questionnaire to a large network of possibly involved services. For the present survey, a program was defined as organized if personal invitations were sent. We identified 29 already active organized programs and 4 others in a starting phase. The target population of active programs included 2,074,820 women in the age range 25-64 years, corresponding to 13.5% of the Italian female population of the same age. The situation is rapidly evolving since many regional programs are being implemented. Most programs followed Italian and European recommendations as regards the age limits, interval between screening rounds, presence of a fail-safe system for women referred for colposcopy, presence of protocols for diagnostic workup and treatment, and presence of referral centers for such phases. However, many programs did not meet national guidelines as regards the size of laboratories interpreting smears, which were frequently small. Second-level referral centers also frequently had a very small activity. The average (weighted for size of the invited population) compliance to invitation and coverage (proportion of women with at least one test in the last 3 years) was 32.6% and 66.0%, respectively, therefore needing to be improved. Compliance to colposcopy (weighted for number of referred women) was 81.4%. We found a very high variability in the proportion of women referred for colposcopy that could only be partly explained by different referral protocols and could depend on different criteria of smear interpretation: the average (weighted for number of tested women) was 2.01%. A need for improvement in the process of evaluation and for homogenization of criteria of cytology interpretation was identified: work in this regard is on-going.

Adult↗

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Measurement of the cost of screening for cervical cancer in the district of Florence, Italy.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: To estimate the cost per woman examined and per CIN II or more severe lesion detected in a population-based cytologic screening program for cervical cancer prevention. An organized cytologic screening program has been ongoing in the Florence District since 1973, and a call-recall system using mail invitation has been ongoing since 1980. Smear reading and assessment of screening positives is centralized at the screening unit. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: All relevant resources (costs) consumed by the program were listed and measured. The unit cost per examined woman and per each CIN II or more severe lesion detected was estimated for each screening phase (recruitment, screening, assessment). RESULTS: The cost per examined woman was $24.60, whereas that per CIN II or more severe lesion detected was $13,600. Staff accounted for 80% of total amount. CONCLUSIONS: Although the cost for a single procedure is low, the cost per detected lesion is quite remarkable due to the low detection rate in a population screened for a long time. Different approaches and longer interval screening tests are discussed.

Adult↗

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Different kinetics of immunologic recovery using nelfinavir or lopinavir/ritonavir-based regimens in children with perinatal HIV-1 infection.

The choice to include the optimal protease inhibitor (PI) in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens in children with perinatal HIV-1 infection is still under debate. Virologic and immunologic outcomes of three different regimens in an observational paediatric cohort were compared. Data from 12 saquinavir-, 18 nelfinavir-, and 10 lopinavir/ritonavir-treated children were analyzed after 4 and 24 weeks of therapy. Immunologic and virologic outcomes were compared using multivariate analysis adjusting the results for age, baseline CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and baseline viral load. Saquinavir-treated children displayed significant reduction in viral load at week 24 (but not at week 4) and no increase in CD4+ T-lymphocyte count, indicating a poor advantage in using this drug. Lopinavir/ritonavir-treated children presented lower viral loads than nelfinavir-treated children at week 4 (P=0.020) and week 24 (P<0.0001). Virologic failure occurred in 6/18 (33.3%) nelfinavir-treated children but in no child receiving lopinavir/ritonavir (P=0.013). An undetectable viral load was achieved in 9/10 (90.0%) lopinavir/ritonavir- vs. 3/18 (16.6%) nelfinavir-treated children (P<0.0001). No significant difference in CD4+ T-lymphocyte count was observed between lopinavir/ritonavir- and nelfinavir-treated children at weeks 4 and 24. However, a different kinetic of the immunologic recovery was observed. Lopinavir/ritonavir-treated children displayed higher CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts than saquinavir-treated children since the first month of therapy (week 4: P=0.042; week 24: P= 0.029) while nelfinavir-treated children took 24 weeks to reach such an outcome (P=0.034). Since lopinavir/ritonavir-based regimen controls viral replication more efficiently and restores CD4+ T-lymphocyte count more quickly than saquinavir- or nelfinavir-based HAART, it may be considered when a salvage therapy or a rapid increase in CD4+ T-lymphocytes is necessary.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

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Predicting prostate biopsy outcome by findings at digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography, PSA, PSA density and free-to-total PSA ratio in a population-based screening setting.

The study offers a retrospective analysis of the positive predictive value (PPV) of several variables, i.e. digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), PSA value, PSA density (PSAD), and free/total PSA ratio (F/T), for the histologic outcome of 179 prostate biopsies performed within a population-based screening trial. The ratio of spared benign biopsies to missed cancers (SBB/MC) if biopsy results had been decided on the basis of single variables was also evaluated. PPV was 82.9% for DRE, 56.3% for TRUS, 26.6% for PSA (cutoff > or =4 ng/mL), 47.4% for PSA (cutoff > or =10 ng/mL), 42.0% for PSAD (cutoff 0.15), 59.2% for PSAD (cutoff 0.20), 34.9% for F/T (cutoff 0.20) and 40.0% for F/T (cutoff 0.15). SBB/MC was 121/23 for DRE, 96/12 for TRUS, 11/10 for PSA (cutoff > or =4 ng/mL), 107/34 for PSA (cutoff > or =10 ng/mL), 87/23 for PSAD (cutoff 0.15), 109/26 for PSAD (cutoff 0.20), 45/8 for F/T (cutoff 0.20) and 70/14 for F/T (cutoff 0.15). Multivariate analysis of the association with biopsy outcome showed the highest odds ratio for TRUS (13.24, 95% CI=4.4-30.7), and considerably lower values for DRE (4.17, 95% CI=2.0-8-9), PSAD (cutoff 0.20: 3.24, 95% CI=-1.8-5.7) and F/T (cutoff <0.15: 3.16, 95% CI=1.7-1.8). None of the possible variable combinations was clinically useful: the highest PPV (83.3%) was obtained with a combination of suspicious DRE/TRUS, PSAD >0.20 and F/T <0.15, which nevertheless missed 20 of 52 cancers.

Biopsy↗

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Analysis of PSA velocity in 1666 healthy subjects undergoing total PSA determination at two consecutive screening rounds.

The study purpose was to assess PSA velocity (PSAV) in healthy subjects in order to establish a reliable cutoff for the differential diagnosis of prostate cancer in a screening setting. We studied a series of 1666 healthy men aged 55 to 74 years undergoing two total PSA determinations at a four-year interval within a population-based randomized screening trial at the Centro per lo Studio e la Prevenzione Oncologica of Florence. First and second screening round PSA assays (PSA1 and PSA2) were carried out with the same method and by the same laboratory. PSAV (PSA1-PSA2/year) was determined in non-cancer subjects in the overall series or in specific age and PSA subgroups, and in subjects with cancer detected at the second screening round. Average PSAV in 1648 non-cancer subjects was 0.07 ng/mL/year (range -2.18+5.99, 95% CI 0.05-0.09); at least one third of subjects showed a decrease in PSA (negative PSAV), mostly of limited magnitude and in the low PSA range. Average PSAV in the 18 cancer patients was 1.16 ng/mL/year (range 0.10-5.6, 95% CI 0.56-1.77), which is significantly higher (p<0.01) than in non-cancer subjects. None of the cancer patients showed a PSA decrease over time. Whatever cutoff was taken for PSAV, its power to discriminate cancer was limited: in particular the previously used PSAV cutoff of 0.75 ng/mL/year would have included only 42 of the 1648 non-cancer subjects (specificity 97.5%) but excluded eight of the 18 cancer patients (sensitivity 55.5%). At best, with the adopted screening protocol PSAV (cutoff 0.10 ng/mL/year) could have spared 27.9% of non-cancer subjects with PSA > or =2.5 ng/mL further diagnostic assessment and 22.7% of non-cancer subjects with PSA > or =4 ng/mL random sextant biopsy, while missing no cancers. This study provides a reliable estimate of PSAV based on a large unbiased population sample. PSAV is widely variable over time, particularly at low PSA values. PSAV might be of value as an indicator for diagnostic assessment and random sextant biopsy in a screening setting.

Aged↗

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Predictors of random sextant biopsy outcome in screened men with PSA > 4 ng/mL and a negative sextant biopsy at previous screening. Experience in a population-based screening program in Florence.

The aim of this study was to evaluate possible pedictors of the outcome of repeat random sextant biopsy of the prostate prompted by a rise in prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Random biopsies performed for PSA elevation (>4 ng/mL) in the course of a randomized study of screening efficacy were reviewed, and 87 consecutive biopsies (carcinoma = 13, high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia = 6, negative = 68) performed in subjects with a negative random biopsy at the previous screening round were considered. Findings at digital rectal examination or transrectal ultrasonography and total PSA value were not useful predictors of repeat biopsy outcome, whereas PSA velocity was significantly associated with biopsy outcome. The positive predictive value for a cancer biopsy was 2.7% (1/36), 28.5% (2/7), and 22.7% (10/44) for PSA velocity values of <0.1, 0.1-0.19, and >0.19 ng/mL/yr, respectively. A cutoff of 0.1 ng/mL/yr for PSA velocity would have allowed to avoid approximately half (35/74 = 47.2%) of the benign biopsies while decreasing the sensitivity by 7.6% (1/13), and is thus suggested as a possible criterion for the indication of repeat random biopsy for persistent PSA elevation.

Aged↗

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Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of screening by fecal occult blood testing (FOBT). Comparison of FOB Gold and OC Sensor assays in a consecutive prospective screening series.

We evaluated a new immunological fecal occult blood testing assay (FOB Gold, Sentinel = SENT) compared to the assay currently employed in the Florence screening program (OC-Hemodia, Eiken = OC). A total of 4,133 subjects were screened with both tests and underwent colonoscopy if positive (100 ng/mL Hb cutoff) to either test: 190 (4.59%) were positive (OC =140 (3.4%); SENT = 131 (3.2%)). The relative sensitivity for 7 cancers was 100% with OC and 67.9% with SENT, and for 48 high-risk adenomas (HRAs) it was 77.0% with OC and 66.6% with SENT. The positive predictive value (PPV) for cancer+HRA was 31.4% for OC and 28.2% for SENT and the specificity was 97.7 for both. The differences were not statistically significant. Adding SENT to OC increased the positivity rate by 32% and the cancer+HRA detection rate by 25%, and decreased the PPV by 10%. Both tests were performed on the same tubes in 1,601 cases, and in 18 of 47 cases they differed on different tubes but not on the same tube, suggesting inhomogeneous Hb content or varying fecal matrix influence in different samples. SENT has practical advantages for screening [corrected] (fully automated, high output, requires no dedicated instrument), a comparable specificity and a lower sensitivity, though the latter difference may be partially ascribed to differences in sampling and not to the assay itself [corrected] Because of the statistical insignificance of the differences, further studies are needed for confirmation.

Adenoma↗

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[The assessment of the impact of a double reading by expert readers in a mass mammographic study].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of double reading of screening mammograms by expert radiologists. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed the results of independent readings of a proficiency test of screening mammography (140 cases, 32 cancers) performed by four expert radiologists. Double reading was simulated by matching the four original readings in 6 possible combinations. The impact of double reading over single reading was evaluated in terms of increased sensitivity and increased recall rate. RESULTS: Of 32 carcinomas 22, 6, or 4 were identified by 4, 3, or 2 readers, respectively. Of 108 cases negative for cancer a recall for further investigations was suggested by 4, 3, 2, 1 or no reader(s) in 3, 3, 9, 14, or 79 cases, respectively. Inter-reader diagnostic repeatability was good (k = 0.65). Single readers achieved an average sensitivity of 89% (range 87.5-90.6%) and an average recall rate of 12.2% (range 7.4-16.6%). Simulated double reading achieved an average increase in sensitivity of 8.8% (range 6.2-10.95%) and an average increase of recall rate of 6.2% (range 3.8-8.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Even though the relative increase of recall rate is relevant (+53.2%), the corresponding gain in sensitivity justifies the use of double reading, which was confirmed to be worthwhile also when expert radiologists are involved. This study confirms the opportunity of adopting double reading as a routine procedure in mammographic screening.

Aged↗