Biomedical subjects

S Franceschi

Publications and source records attributed to S Franceschi.

At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources

PubMed1992

Alcohol and epithelial ovarian cancer.

The relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer was analysed using data from a case-control study of 801 histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancers and 2114 controls in hospital for acute, non-neoplastic, gynecological, or hormone-related conditions, admitted to a network of teaching and general hospitals in the greater Milan area, northern Italy, i.e. a region with comparatively frequent alcohol consumption by women. Compared to alcohol abstainers, the multivariate relative risks (RRs) were 1.0 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.7 to 1.4] for less than one, 1.1. (95% CI 0.9 to 1.6) for one to two, 1.2 (95% CI 1.0 to 1.5) for two to three and 1.3 (95% CI 0.9 to 1.8) for three or more drinks per day. A significant direct trend in risk with dose emerged. This finding chiefly derived from an association between ovarian cancer risk and consumption of wine (which accounts for over 90% of alcohol intake in this female population). Although no significant interaction between the effect of alcohol consumption and various women's characteristics emerged, there was a hint that the adverse influence of alcohol consumption is more marked in middle-age and less educated women. Thus, the results of this study suggest that relatively elevated alcohol intake (of the order of 40 g per day or more) may cause a modest increase of epithelial ovarian cancer risk.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Attributable risks for oesophageal cancer in northern Italy.

The population attributable risk for oesophageal cancer in relation to cigarette smoking, elevated alcohol use and low beta-carotene intake has been estimated with 300 cases and 1203 controls in Greater Milan. In males 71% of oesophageal cancers were attributable to smoking, 45% to elevated alcohol use and 40% to low beta-carotene consumption. The corresponding figures were 32%, 10% and 29% in females and 61%, 39% and 38% in total. The overall estimate, including the joint effect of the three factors, was 90% in males, 58% in females and 83% in total. The discrepancies between the sums are due to the assumption of a multiplicative model and to the great percentage of oesophageal cancers attributable to each single factor. Cigarette smoking is the major known cause of oesophageal cancer and the three factors account for practically all the difference between male and female mortality rates. Elimination of smoking, reduction of alcohol consumption and enrichment of diet with fruit and vegetables would make oesophageal cancer a rare disease in Italians of both sexes.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Cutaneous melanoma and sunburns in childhood in a southern European population.

A population-based case-control study of 260 patients (74 males and 186 females, mean age = 56) with cutaneous malignant melanoma and 416 controls (211 males and 205 females, mean age = 55) was conducted in Turin, north-west Italy, to examine the relation between timing of sunburns and sun exposure and melanoma risk within a southern European population, which is still relatively little investigated. Particularly elevated risk was associated with history of sunburns in childhood [odds ratio 5.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6-9.5], and such risk elevation persisted after allowance for other major melanoma risk covariates. Conversely, risk increase from history of severe sunburns lifelong was lower (odds ratio = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.4) and was eliminated by allowance for type of skin reaction to sun exposure and history of sunburns in childhood. A significant increase in the risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma was also associated with number of weeks spent on holiday at the beach not only as an adult, but also as a child.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Coffee consumption and bladder cancer risk.

The relation between consumption of regular and decaffeinated coffee and other methylxanthine-containing beverages and bladder cancer was analysed in a case-control study in two different areas of northern Italy (555 cases and 855 controls). The multivariate relative risk (RR) adjusted for smoking, occupation and sociodemographic variables for coffee drinkers versus non-drinkers was 1.3 (95% CI 1.0-1.8). The RR was 1.2 for one cup of coffee per day, 1.4 for two, 1.5 for three and 1.4 for four or more (P = 0.05). RRs for current drinkers were 1.5 (0.9-2.4) for decaffeinated coffee, 0.9 (0.6-1.2) for tea, and 0.6 (0.3-1.4) for cola. With reference to duration of consumption of coffee, RRs were 1.2 for less than 30 years or 1.4 for 30 years or more. Coffee-related RRs were higher in the older age group and in ex-smokers. Among 105 cases and 338 controls who had never smoked, RRs were 1.9 for one or two cups per day, 1.8 for three and 1.5 for four or more (trend not significant). A higher prevalence of coffee drinking among bladder cancer cases than controls was confirmed, with no clear dose-risk relation.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Linkage of death certification of AIDS and cancer registration in Vaud, Switzerland.

58 death certifications (40 males and 18 females) of residents of the Canton of Vaud (Switzerland) which reported AIDS as the cause of death in 1986-1989 were matched with the list of incident cancers available since 1974 from the Vaud Cancer Registry. Such linkage was successful for 20 individuals (age range 25-63, median 37), mostly males (18/20), homosexual or bisexual (11/18) and affected by Kaposi's sarcoma (14 males and 1 female). Other identified neoplasms included one Burkitt's lymphoma, one prostate adenocarcinoma and one multiple myeloma (whose histological picture included, however, lymphocytosis in addition to plasmocytosis). Three additional malignancies (one undifferentiated skin cancer, one carcinoma of the salivary glands and one in situ cervical carcinoma), and one myelodysplastic syndrome had also been diagnosed from 1 to 2 years before AIDS death. Cancer was mentioned on the death certificate, in addition to AIDS, in only 2 cases. Albeit of limited size, the present report confirms that a systematic integration of AIDS and cancer registration statistics provides additional information, of particular interest for histological classification, on the AIDS-cancer relationship.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1992

Trends in cancer survival in Vaud, Switzerland.

Survival rates from the Vaud Cancer Registry were compared for incident cases registered in 1974-1978 and 1979-1983. No appreciable difference was evident for most major cancer sites: 5-year relative survival rates were 0.21 in 1974-1978 and 0.23 in 1979-1983 for stomach, 0.49 and 0.46 for colon, 0.45 and 0.47 for rectum, 0.04 and 0.03 for pancreas, 0.08 and 0.10 for lung, 0.41 and 0.42 for kidney, 0.21 and 0.13 for brain, and 0.32 and 0.30 for multiple myeloma, respectively. A modest advancement in 5-year relative survival rates was, however, registered for total cancer mortality (non-melanomatous tumours excluded, from 0.41 to 0.43) while, with regard to specific sites, a significant improvement was seen only for cancer of the testis (from 0.73 to 0.88). More than 10% non-significant improvements in survival were recorded for melanomatous skin cancer (from 0.67 to 0.78), thyroid cancer (from 0.73 to 0.85), particularly in females, non-Hodgkin lymphomas (from 0.37 to 0.45), Hodgkin's disease (from 0.61 to 0.78), cancer of the ovary (from 0.28 to 0.32) and the prostate (from 0.44 to 0.52). However, significant declines in survival rates were seen for cancer of the larynx, gallbladder and biliary tract, and for connective tissue neoplasms. A few differences in the modification of relative survival rates according to age (less than 60 versus greater than or equal to 60 years) were noted for a few cancer sites. Changes were larger in older patients with respect to cancer of the prostate and thyroid and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (increases) and connective neoplasms (decreases). Conversely, changes in survival were greater or restricted to younger individuals for testis, bladder and leukaemias (improvements) and cancer of the mouth or pharynx (decline), thus suggesting the different play of age-specific biological characteristics of some tumours, in addition to diagnostic improvements and gradual spread of effective cancer treatments to more advanced age groups.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1992

The epidemiology of AIDS-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the World Health Organization European Region.

This paper describes the epidemiology of AIDS-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. Data, collected by the WHO Collaborating Centre on AIDS in Paris, France, were derived from the national AIDS surveillance systems of 21 countries. Among 53,042 cases reported as of the end of June 1991, 1,617 (3.0%) had NHL as the presenting clinical manifestation of AIDS. The proportion of cases presenting with NHL ranged from 1.1% in children infected perinatally to 3.9% among haemophiliacs. In comparison with intravenous drug users (IVDUs) (2.6% of whom had NHL), a moderate excess was found among homosexual or bisexual men (odds ratio - OR -:1.2, 95% confidence interval - CI -:1.0-1.3). Over time, the proportion of NHL was constant, but whereas among homosexual or bisexual men the frequency of NHL as AIDS-indicator disease significantly increased (9.7% per year), among IVDUs a significant downward trend emerged (17.1% per year). In respect to age, two peaks of NHL were seen at the age groups 10-19 (3.8%) and 50-59 (4.3%). The proportion of AIDS-associated NHL significantly increased with increasing age among homosexual and bisexual men and heterosexuals whereas it decreased among IVDUs. All these differences, however, have to be interpreted cautiously on account of the limitations of the reporting systems.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1992

Tea consumption and cancer risk.

The relationship between tea consumption and cancer risk has been analyzed using data from an integrated series of case-control studies conducted in northern Italy between 1983 and 1990. The dataset included 119 histologically confirmed cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, 294 of the esophagus, 564 of the stomach, 673 of the colon, 406 of the rectum, 258 of the liver, 41 of the gallbladder, 303 of the pancreas, 149 of the larynx, 2,860 of the breast, 567 of the endometrium, 742 of the ovary, 107 of the prostate, 365 of the bladder, 147 of the kidney, 120 of the thyroid, and a total of 6,147 controls admitted to hospital for acute nonneoplastic conditions unrelated to long-term dietary modifications. Multivariate relative risks (RR) for tea consumption were derived after allowance for age, sex, area of residence, education, smoking, and coffee consumption. All the estimates for tea consumption were close to unity, the highest values being 1.4 for rectum, gallbladder, and endometrium. There was no association with cancers of the oral cavity (RR = 0.6), esophagus (RR = 1.0), stomach (RR = 1.0), bladder (RR = 0.8), kidney (RR = 1.1), prostate (RR = 0.9), or any other site considered. Although in northern Italy tea was consumed daily by only a limited proportion of the population, this integrated series of studies offers further reassuring evidence on the relationship between tea and cancer risk.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Differences in dietary intake with smoking, alcohol, and education.

Differences in the frequency of consumption of 30 selected foods and in the estimated intake of total calories and selected nutrients in relation to alcohol drinking, tobacco smoking, and education were described using information obtained from 1,774 controls of a case-control study of digestive tract cancers conducted in northern Italy. Heavy alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, and lower level of education were associated with a diet poorer in several aspects, including lower consumption of fresh fruit and green vegetables and higher intake of specific indicator foods, such as sausages and canned meat. For instance, the mean number of portions of fresh fruit per week was 10.5 among male nondrinkers vs. 9.0 among heavy drinkers, 10.4 among male nonsmokers vs. 8.1 among heavy smokers, and 8.8 in less educated individuals vs. 10.7 among those more educated. Consequently, intake of beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, and calcium tended to be inversely related to alcohol and tobacco and directly related to education. Most associations were stronger in males, for whom alcohol consumption was also more common in less educated individuals. Calorie intake was directly related to alcohol consumption, largely reflecting calories provided by alcohol itself. However, alcohol drinking was also directly related to fat consumption. In both sexes, there was a strong positive correlation between cigarette smoking and coffee drinking. These results provide quantitative documentation that alcohol drinking, tobacco smoking, and education, three of the major determinants of cancer risks, were also correlates of dietary patterns and, hence, may exert an important confounding or modifying effect on the diet and cancer relationship.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Diet and prostatic cancer: a case-control study in northern Italy.

The relationship between intake of various indicator foods and beverages and risk of prostatic cancer was assessed in 271 cases of prostatic cancer and 685 hospital controls recruited in two areas of northern Italy, the province of Pordenone and the greater Milan area. Increased risks were found for more frequent intake of meat [odds ratio (OR) in the highest vs. lowest consumption tertile = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-2.0], milk (OR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.4), fresh fruit (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-2.1), and vegetables (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 0.9-2.2). After allowance for the reciprocal confounding effect of various dietary habits, only frequent intake of milk seemed to be a significant independent indicator of prostatic cancer risk. There was also a clue that the unfavorable influence of frequent intake of a few food items (i.e. meat, fish, liver, ham and salami, milk and butter, and retinol) may be greater or restricted to older individuals (i.e., > or = 70 yrs of age). In conclusion, the present study confirms the presence of a moderate adverse effect of high intake of foods of animal origin, chiefly milk, while it suggests that a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables does not convey a protection.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Risk factors for adult soft tissue sarcoma in northern Italy.

The role of several potential risk factors in the etiology of soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) was examined in a hospital-based case-control study, conducted in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, northeast Italy, between 1985 and 1991. A total of 93 STS cases (53 males and 40 females, median age: 52 years) and of 721 controls (371 males and 350 females, median age: 54 years) were interviewed. Significant increased risks were associated with a history of herpes zoster infection (odds ratio (OR): 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-4.9), chicken-pox (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2-4.1) and mumps (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.8). None of the other medical conditions investigated - socio-economic and anthropometric indicators, tobacco smoking, consumption of alcoholic beverages, coffee and tea - seemed to affect STS risk. No risk elevation was found in subjects employed in agriculture (OR - for greater than 10 years employment = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.4-1.5), nor in those who reported exposure to pesticides or herbicides (OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.1-1.2). Workers who reported exposure to chemical agents or to benzene or other solvents for more than 10 years had, respectively, a 1.8-fold (95% CI: 0.7-4.4) and a 2.2-fold (95% CI: 0.9-5.5) higher risk of developing STS.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

The epidemiology of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and associated tumours in Europe.

By the end of September 1991, more than 60,000 cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) had been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by 31 countries in the WHO European region. Most of the cases (58,280/60,485-96%) were recorded in western Europe, chiefly in five countries: France (16,552 cases), Italy (10,584), Spain (10,101), Germany (6,968) and the United Kingdom (5,065). From the first reports in 1981 of European cases of AIDS until 1987, AIDS spread faster in the northern and central areas than elsewhere in the European region. Since then, the spread of the epidemic has been remarkably more rapid in southern Europe, while in eastern Europe AIDS is still in an early phase. More than 70% of the cases among homosexual or bisexual men were from the northern part of Europe, while the cases among intravenous drug users (IVDUs) were concentrated in the southern European countries, principally Italy and Spain. Over time, an increasing proportion of cases was recorded among IVDUs and in heterosexuals. More than 10,000 patients in Europe were diagnosed as having Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) (14% of all AIDS cases) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (3%) as the presenting clinical manifestation of AIDS. The possibility of predicting the evolution of the epidemic in Europe depends heavily on the development of unbiased monitoring systems for HIV infection in the general population (i.e. anonymous unlinked testing).

AIDS-Related Complex↗

PubMed1992

The role of age at menarche and at menopause on breast cancer risk: combined evidence from four case-control studies.

The role of age at menarche and at menopause on breast cancer risk was reassessed in a combined analysis of four Italian case-control studies including a total of 6,075 cases and 5,492 controls. The risk of breast cancer was lower in women whose menarche occurred at age 15 or over, but there was no evidence for the risk to increase with decreasing age at menarche below age 15. Compared with women with earlier menarche, the relative risk (RR) was 0.9 (95% confidence interval, CI 0.7-1.0) for those with menarche at age 15, 0.8 (95% CI 0.6-0.9) for menarche at 16, and 0.7 (95% CI 0.5-0.8) for menarche at age 17 or over. There was no significant interaction between age at menarche and study centre or age at diagnosis, parity and age at first birth. In relation to age at menopause, compared with women whose menopause occurred at age 40 or less, the relative risk was 1.1 (95% CI 0.8-1.3) between 40 and 44, 1.2 (95% CI 0.9-1.4) between 45 and 49, 1.4 (95% CI 1.2-1.8) between 50 and 53, and 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.8) above 53. The risk estimates were comparable in various studies, and the trend in risk with age at menopause was statistically significant. The risk estimates tended to be somewhat higher at peri-menopausal age (45 to 54 years), but no consistent pattern was evident across subsequent strata of age, and the interaction with age was not significant. Likewise, no consistent interaction was observed with parity, age at first birth or body mass index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

The epidemiology of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma in Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in Italy between January 1982 and September 1991. DESIGN: To make this study comparable with previous research from other countries, statistical analysis of data from the Italian AIDS surveillance system was performed. METHODS: Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to examine the association between several characteristics of AIDS cases and the presence of KS as the presenting clinical manifestation of AIDS. Trends in the frequency of AIDS-associated KS were also estimated. RESULTS: Of the 10,584 Italian AIDS cases reported up to September 1991, 720 (6.8%) had KS as the presenting clinical manifestation. In comparison with intravenous drug users (IVDU), of whom 2.6% had KS, homosexual or bisexual men had a nearly 10-fold higher risk of KS (OR, 10.2; 95% CI, 8.2-12.8), homosexual men who were also IVDU a nearly fourfold increased risk (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 3.0-6.6) and heterosexuals a 2.6-fold risk (95% CI, 1.7-3.7). Men were more likely to have KS than women. The percentage of new AIDS cases with KS recorded each year in Italy declined from 12.0% in 1982-1986 to 5.8% in 1990-1991, a significant relative decrease of 19.0% per year (95% CI, 14.1-23.6%). The decline was observed among both IVDU (20% per year) and homosexual or bisexual men (11.4% per year). The frequency of KS was similar across age groups within each transmission category, whereas geographical differences emerged in the prevalence of AIDS-associated KS, especially among IVDU. CONCLUSIONS: Our data on the epidemiology of AIDS-associated KS in Italy are similar to reports from North America and Europe, which show that KS is more common among individuals who acquired HIV infection by sexual transmission rather than parenterally, and that the incidence of this neoplasm is declining over time. The still poorly understood aetiology of AIDS-associated KS needs to be investigated further.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1992

Partial gastrectomy and subsequent gastric cancer risk.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to analyse the relationship between partial gastrectomy and gastric cancer risk. DESIGN: This was a case control study, using a structured questionnaire to obtain problem orientated medical history and sociodemographic data. SETTING: The study was conducted in a network of hospitals in the Greater Milan area between January 1985 and February 1990. SUBJECTS: Subjects were 563 incident cases of histologically confirmed gastric carcinoma (347 males, 216 females, median age 60 years, range 28 to 74) and 1501 controls (885 males, 626 females, median age 58 years, range 23 to 74) in hospital for acute, non-neoplastic, non-digestive-tract disorders. Less than 3% of cases or controls refused to be interviewed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Relative risks (RR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined, adjusted for age and sex plus area of residence, education, and smoking when specified. Within 20 years after gastrectomy, the relative risk of gastric cancer was not significantly raised (RR = 1.2, 95% CI 0.5-2.8), but a positive association emerged after longer time intervals. The RR was 1.6 (95% CI 0.7-4.1) after 20 to 29 years, and 3.5 (95% CI 1.3-10.0) after 30 years or more. These results were consistent in the two sexes and in the subsequent age groups, and not materially influenced by allowance for a number of identified potential confounding factors using multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of gastric cancer is increased in the long term (20 years or more) after gastrectomy. This is explainable in terms of increased intragastric carcinogen formation following gastrectomy, and/or potential similarities in aetiological correlates of gastric ulcer and carcinoma of the stomach.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Oral contraceptives and non-contraceptive oestrogens in the risk of gallstone disease requiring surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the relationship between oral contraceptives, non-contraceptive oestrogens, and the risk of gallstone disease requiring surgery. DESIGN: This was a hospital based case-control study carried out between 1987 and 1990. Main outcome measures were frequency of consumption of oral contraceptives and non-contraceptive oestrogens, and the corresponding multivariate relative risk estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in relation to various measures of use of the preparations. SETTING: A network including major teaching and general hospitals in the greater Milan area, northern Italy. SUBJECTS: Subjects were 235 women with gallstones requiring surgery and 538 controls admitted for acute diseases, other than digestive or hormonal diseases or those potentially influencing the use of female hormone preparations. MAIN RESULTS: For oral contraceptives, the relative risk for ever use was 0.8 with 95% CI 0.4 to 1.5. With reference to duration of use, the multivariate relative risk was 1.0 for less than two and 0.5 for two or more years of use. The relative risk was 1.7 (95% CI 0.6 to 4.7) in women who had last used the pill less than five years before diagnosis, but declined to 0.4 (95% CI 0.2 to 1.0) in those who had stopped more than five years before. With reference to oestrogen replacement treatment, the relative risk for ever use was 1.9 (95% CI 1.0 to 3.1). The relative risk, however, was not related to duration of use, since it was 1.8 for less than two and 1.5 for two or more years of use. Relative risk was higher for women who had last used non-contraceptive oestrogens 10 or more years before diagnosis (2.4) than for shorter periods since last use (1.3). CONCLUSIONS: On a clinical and public health scale, oral contraceptives and non-contraceptive oestrogens are unlikely to have an important influence in the aetiology of gallbladder disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Buserelin treatment of advanced prostatic carcinoma: prognostic factor analysis.

From August 1986 to August 1990, 116 patients with prostatic carcinoma, advanced disease (stage C-D1 only in patients older than 75 years, or D2) were treated with Buserelin (0.5 mg 3 times/day subcutaneously for 7 days, followed by 0.4 mg 3 times/day intranasally) until progression. No concomitant antiandrogens were administered. Of the 108 evaluable patients, 10 had complete remission (CR), 49 partial remission (PR), 46 remained stable while 3 progressed (response rate = 54.6%). Median duration of response was 31 months, median survival was 34 months. The toxicity of treatment was mild and mainly related to the hormonal effect of the drug. Castrate testosterone levels were obtained in all patients except 7. Slight, transient pain increase was noted at day 8 in 12 patients. Absence of symptoms at the start of treatment, well- or moderately differentiated tumor and serum testosterone negativization following Buserelin were associated with a significantly higher response rate as compared to presence of symptoms, poorly differentiated tumor and failure to obtain castrate testosterone levels, respectively. The following prognostic factors were found, at univariate analysis, to be associated with a prolonged survival: stage (C-D1 versus D2), PS (greater than 80 versus equal or less than 80), symptoms (absent versus present) and histological grade (G1 + G2 versus G3). Age and basal T levels did not influence survival. Those patients who obtained a CR or PR survived significantly longer than those with stable disease or progression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

PubMed1992

Female tumours in Italy: an example of quantitative assessment of disease burden and preventive strategies.

Female tumours (ie cancers of the female genital tract and breast) represent alone about 40% of new cases and 30% of cancer deaths in Italy (approximately 44,500 new cancer diagnoses and 17,800 deaths in 1991). An attempt to identify major issues in the primary and secondary prevention of these malignancies has disclosed several important points. Firstly, concerning epidemiology, excesses of mortality from cancers of the breast and ovaries exist in the northern part of Italy as compared to the centre and south, whereas mortality rates from uterine cancer are almost equally distributed. However, a tendency towards increasing similarity of various Italian regions emerges. Risk factors most amenable to intervention are overweight, contraceptive methods and dietary habits. Secondly, concerning screening, the number of mammograms (about 552) and the number of Pap smears taken every year (about 4 million) are approximately sufficient to provide a complete coverage of the target subset of the female population as concerns breast and cervical cancer screening. Still, on account of no one carrying out primary call procedures and checks, the actual situation is unsatisfactory. The present article, in addition to quantifying the present status of female cancer prevention in Italy, tries to define a framework for similar exercises in other European countries.

Adult↗