유방암 선별검사의 경계연령에 대한 고찰

Screening Examination of Breast Cancer: Review of the Recommended Guidelines

영남대학교 의과대학 부속병원에서 1992년 3월부터 1999년 6월까지 유방암으로 확진된 820례 중 35세 미만인 예는 102례(12.4%)이며 60세 이상인 예는 122례(14.9%)로 젊은 여성에 있어서도 유방암환자가 잦은 빈도로 발견되었다. 유방촬영술 또는 유방초음파검사를 시행한 35세 이하군 49명의 유방촬영술의 병변검색율은 83.8%, 유방암에 대한 민감도는 67.6%이었고, 초음파검사의 병변검색율은 100%, 유방암에 대한 민감도는 87.2%이었다. 60세이상의 대조군 48명 중 유방촬영술을 시행한 경우는 34명이며, 유방초음파검사는 81명에서 시행되었다. 유방촬영술의 병변검색률은 100%, 유방암에 대한 민감도는 91.2%이였고, 초음파검사의 병변겸색율은 100%, 유방암에 대한 민감도는 96.7%이었다(표 2). 조직학적으로는 35세 이하군에서 침윤성 유도관상피암 30명(61.2%), 유도관내 암종 8명(16.3%)이며 핵분열정도는 I이 3.8%, II가 26.9%, III가 39.2%이었고, 60세이상의 대조군에서는 침윤성 유도관상피암 32명(66.6%), 유도관내 암종 4명(8.33%)이고 핵분열정도는 I이 9.4%, II가 31.3%, III가 59.4%이었다(표1, 표3). 결론적으로 35세 이하군의 조직학적 분류상 악성도가 높은 종양이 많고 발생빈도가 60세 이상군과 유의한 차이가 없으므로 조기유방암의 선별을 위해서는 American Cancer Society에서 권장하는 baseline mammogram의 시행시기인 35-40세보다 더 이른 시기에 선별검사가 필요하다고 생각한다.

Background: Delays in breast cancer diagnosis may occur in young women due to a low index of suspicion. The purpose of this study was to compare mammography and breast sonography in detection of breast cancer and to suggest a reasonable guideline for breast cancer screening examination. Materials and Methods: Among 820 patients, 102 patients were under 35 years and 122 patients were above 60 years of age. We reviewed medical records, mammograms and/or ultrasonography of 49 patients under 35 years and 48 patients above 60 years of age with pathologically-proven breast cancer. Pathological reports were as follows Invasive ductal carcinoma(IDC) was present 61.2% of patients in the young age group and ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS) in 16.3%. IDC was present in 66.6% of the patients in the old age group, and DCIS in 8.33%. We analyzed mammography and ultrasonography to evaluate their usefulness in detecting breast cancer in patients under 35 years and over 60 years of age. Results: The mammographic results are as follows : 1) detection rate of lesion: 83.8%(under 35yrs), 100%(over 60yrs) 2) sensitivity of cancer: 67.6%(under 35yrs), 91.2%(over 60yrs) The ultrasonographic results are as follows : 1) detection rate of lesion: 100% 2) sensitivity of cancer: 87.2%(under 35yrs), 96.7%(over 60yrs) The breast cancer detection rate in women under 35 years old was comparable to that of women above 60 years old in our study. Conclusion: A striking histologic finding in the two groups was a higher incidence of nuclear Grade II and III tumors. This finding correlates with the reported increased incidence of high grade tumors in young women and may correlate with the poorer prognosis of breast cancer in young patients. We conclude that early screening examination is helpful for early detection of breast cancer in women under age 35.