Finland
Population in 2012: | 5.4m |
People newly diagnosed with cancer (excluding NMSC) / yr: | 28,400 |
Age-standardised rate, incidence per 100,000 people/yr: | 256.8 |
Risk of getting cancer before age 75: | 25.9% |
People dying from cancer /yr: | 11,400 |


Finland Cancer Organisations and Resources (7 links)
University of Helsinki
Finland - European Cancer Observatory
Incidence, mortality and prevalence data and graphs.
Helsinki University Central Hospital
Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa
Suomen Syöpärekisteri | Finnish Cancer Registry - Suomi - English
The Registry maintains a nation-wide database on all cancer cases in Finland going back to 1953. It is also an internationally active institute for statistical and epidemiological cancer research.
Syöpäjärjestöt | Cancer Society of Finland - Suomi - English
Founded 1936, the Society coprises of 12 regional cancer societies and four nationwide patient organisations. The Society brings together scientists, clinicians, decision-makers, financial experts, volunteer helpers and patients.
Roosa nauha | Pink Ribbon - Finnish Cancer Society - Suomi - Translate to English
Syöpäsäätiön
Breast cancer awareness, research and support campaign - in Finland.
Latest Research Publications Related to Finland
Left Ventricular Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Changes Among Early-stage Breast Cancer Patients Three Years After Radiotherapy.
Anticancer Res. 2019; 39(8):4227-4236 [PubMed] Related Publications
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 81 chemotherapy-naïve early-stage breast cancer patients who were evaluated at baseline, immediately after RT and three years after RT. Sixty-one patients had left-sided (LSBC) and 20 right-sided breast cancer (RSBC).
RESULTS: Global longitudinal strain (GLS) declined from baseline -18.0±3.3% to -17.0±3.0% (p=0.015) at the three-year follow-up examination. A decline over 15% (GLS15) was observed in 19 (27%) patients. GLS15 was independently associated with aromatase inhibitor use (β=-1.977, p=0.001). In regional analysis, patients with LSBC had apical strain decline by 3.2±5.5% (p<0.001) and patients with RSBC showed basal rotation decline by 1.8° (-0.2°, 3.8°) (p=0.030).
CONCLUSION: Even contemporary RT induced progressive global and regional decline in speckle tracking analysis. The regional changes complied with RT fields.
Productivity losses associated with premature mortality due to cancer in Russia: A population-wide study covering 2001-2030.
Scand J Public Health. 2019; 47(5):482-491 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Pixantrone beyond monotherapy: a review.
Ann Hematol. 2019; 98(9):2025-2033 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Mucin 16 and kallikrein 13 as potential prognostic factors in colon cancer: Results of an oncological 92-multiplex immunoassay.
Tumour Biol. 2019; 41(7):1010428319860728 [PubMed] Related Publications
High levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in the serum are associated with poor prognosis in HPV-negative squamous cell oropharyngeal cancer.
Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2019; 68(8):1263-1272 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 consecutive OPSCC patients diagnosed and treated with curative intent at the Helsinki University Hospital between 2012 and 2016 were included. Serum samples were prospectively collected. An immunofluorometric assay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to determine MMP-8 and TIMP-1 serum concentrations, respectively. HPV status of the tumors was determined using a combination of HPV-DNA genotyping and p16-INK4a immunohistochemistry. The endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).
RESULTS: High TIMP-1 serum levels were strongly and independently associated with poorer OS (adjusted HR 14.7, 95% CI 1.8-117.4, p = 0.011) and DFS (adjusted HR 8.7, 95% CI 1.3-57.1, p = 0.024) among HPV-negative patients; this association was not observed in HPV-positive OPSCC. Although TIMP-1 was immunoexpressed in the majority of the tumor tissue samples, the level of immunoexpression was not associated with prognosis, nor did MMP-8 serum levels.
CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that serum TIMP-1 levels may serve as an independent prognostic marker for HPV-negative OPSCC patients.
Treatment outcome of patients with chondroblastic osteosarcoma of the limbs and pelvis.
Bone Joint J. 2019; 101-B(6):739-744 [PubMed] Related Publications
PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors carried out a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from 256 patients diagnosed between 1979 and 2015. Of the 256 patients diagnosed with COS of the pelvis and the limbs, 147 patients (57%) were male and 109 patients (43%) were female. The mean age at presentation was 20 years (0 to 90).
RESULTS: In all, 82% of the patients had a poor response to chemotherapy, which was associated with the presence of a predominantly chondroblastic component (more than 50% of tumour volume). The incidence of local recurrence was 15%. Synchronous or metachronous metastasis was diagnosed in 60% of patients. Overall survival was 51% and 42% after five and ten years, respectively. Limb localization and wide surgical margins were associated with a lower risk of local recurrence after multivariable analysis, while the response to chemotherapy was not. Local recurrence, advanced patient age, pelvic tumours, and large volume negatively influenced survival. Resection of pulmonary metastases was associated with a survival benefit in the limited number of patients in whom this was undertaken.
CONCLUSION: COS demonstrates a poor response to chemotherapy and a high incidence of metastases. Wide resection is associated with improved local control and overall survival, while excision of pulmonary metastases is associated with improved survival in selected patients. Cite this article:
Behavior of FDG-avid supradiaphragmatic lymph nodes in PET/CT throughout primary therapy in advanced serous epithelial ovarian cancer: a prospective study.
Cancer Imaging. 2019; 19(1):27 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
METHODS: EOC patients with PET positive sdLNs at diagnosis were prospectively followed with PET/CT after primary chemotherapy and at the first recurrence. In each patient, 2 most active LNs in 5 different supradiaphramatic regions were evaluated and the size and changes in FDG uptake (SUVmax) were recorded. The patients´ overall response to primary treatment was defined with RECIST criteria. The behavior of sdLNs during chemotherapy were compared in treatment responders and non-responders. Recurrence patterns were monitored.
RESULTS: Forty-one patients with 127 PET/CT scans were systematically evaluated. In pretreatment scan, 76% (31/41) of patients had FDG-avid sdLNs in multiple anatomical sites. Only a minority (22/136) of the sdLNs were enlarged in size, but their histopathologic confirmation by biopsy was not possible. Only 6/41 patients had FDG-avid sdLNs in a single surgically approachable site. The sdLNs became inactive during primary chemotherapy more often in the RECIST responders compared to the non-responders (HR 1.46 (95%CI: 1.09-1.96), p = 0.002). The size and SUVmax values did not predict treatment outcome. In 50% of the responders the same sdLNs reactivated when recurrence occurred. Persistent post-treatment metabolic activity did not predict earlier disease relapse (p = 0.59).
CONCLUSION: The behavior of metabolically active sdLNs during chemotherapy supports their metastatic nature. Due to their distribution to multiple regions, the benefit of removal of reachable sdLNS seems unlikely.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT, NCT01276574 . Registered 1 September 2010.
SORLA regulates endosomal trafficking and oncogenic fitness of HER2.
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):2340 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Long-term results of surgical resection of lung metastases from soft tissue sarcoma: A single center experience.
J Surg Oncol. 2019; 120(2):168-175 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: Between 1987 and 2016, 1580 patients were treated for STS with curative intent by Soft Tissue Sarcoma Group at Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. Three hundred forty-seven patients (22%) developed advanced disease and 130 STS patients (9%) developed pulmonary metastases as first systemic relapse. Seventy four patients (5%) were operated for lung metastases.
RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (42%) had a complete and 19 (15%) incomplete resection. Fifty-six (43%) were unoperated. Median OS after complete or incomplete metastasectomy, chemotherapy, or best supportive care was 22, 18, 8, and 5 months, respectively. Twelve patients (9%) developed no further metastases and are alive with no evidence of disease. Disease-free survival (DFS) for completely resected patients was 17% at 5 years. All long-term survivors had oligometastatic disease and they underwent one to three complete metastasectomies.
CONCLUSIONS: Complete pulmonary metastasectomy in STS results in 5 years DFS in nearly one-fifth of patients. Most of these patients are probably cured.
Serum TLR2 and TLR4 levels in colorectal cancer and their association with systemic inflammatory markers, tumor characteristics, and disease outcome.
APMIS. 2019; 127(8):561-569 [PubMed] Related Publications
Elevated preoperative serum levels of collagen I carboxyterminal telopeptide predict better outcome in early-stage luminal-B-like (HER2-negative) and triple-negative subtypes of breast cancer.
Tumour Biol. 2019; 41(5):1010428319847081 [PubMed] Related Publications
Analysis of 255 tracheostomies in an otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery tertiary care center: a safe procedure with a wide spectrum of indications.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019; 276(7):2069-2073 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
METHODS: Surgical tracheostomies performed by otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons at Helsinki University Hospital between January 2014 and February 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, surgical data, and peri- and postoperative mortality information were collected from the hospital charts. Minimum follow-up was 18 months.
RESULTS: The total population was 255, with a majority (n = 181; 71%) of males. The majority of patients (n = 178; 70%) were classified as ASA 3 or 4. A total of 198 (78%) patients suffered from head and neck cancer. Multiple (14 altogether) indications for tracheostomy were identified, and simultaneous major head and neck tumor surgery was common (in 58%). Altogether, 163 (64%) patients were decannulated during follow-up with a median cannulation period of 9 days (range 1-425). The surgical mortality was 0.4%.
CONCLUSION: Simultaneously performed major tumor surgery was the most common indication for a tracheostomy. A notable number of patients had impaired physical status, but relatively insignificant comorbidities. Almost two-thirds of the patients were decannulated during follow-up, although some patients remained tracheostomy dependent for a prolonged period. Tracheostomy was found to be a safe procedure.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b.
Long-Term Quality of Life of Melanoma Survivors Is Comparable to that of the General Population.
Anticancer Res. 2019; 39(5):2633-2640 [PubMed] Related Publications
MATERIALS AND METHODS: HRQoL of 981 cutaneous melanoma patients (aged 13 to 97 years, 56.1% female) was assessed using the generic 15D instrument and compared to the general population. The association between demographic and clinical factors and HRQoL was analyzed using oneway ANOVA, student's t-test and multivariate regression.
RESULTS: The mean 15D score of melanoma patients was slightly lower (0.904) than that of the general population (0.911, p=0.027), but the difference was not statistically significant. HRQoL deteriorates with age and metastatic disease and improves with time.
CONCLUSION: No evidence was found that long-term HRQoL of melanoma survivors was worse than the general population.
Association analyses identify 31 new risk loci for colorectal cancer susceptibility.
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):2154 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Prognostic value of preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in epithelial ovarian cancer.
Eur J Radiol. 2019; 115:66-73 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: This prospective study, approved by local ethical committee, enrolled 38 patients with primary OC, 2011-2014. After preoperative DCE-MRI (3.0 T), two observers measured perfusion (K
RESULTS: Mean K
CONCLUSION: DCE-MRI parameters may represent imaging biomarkers for predicting tumor aggressiveness and prognosis in OC. Higher K
Non-curative treatment of patients with oral tongue squamous-cell carcinoma.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019; 276(7):2039-2045 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
METHODS: All patients diagnosed with OTSCC and treated with non-curative intent at the HUS Helsinki University Hospital (Helsinki, Finland) during the 12-year period of 2005-2016 were included. Survival analysis after the non-curative treatment decision was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method in this population-based study.
RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were identified. A non-curative treatment decision was made at presentation without any previous treatment in 26 patients (7% of all patients diagnosed with OTSCC during the study period). Palliative radiotherapy was administered to 24% of all patients. The average survival time after the non-curative treatment decision was 3.7 months (median 2 and range 0-26).
CONCLUSIONS: Due to the short mean survival time after decision for treatment with non-curative intent, and the notable symptom burden in this patient population, a prompt initiation of all non-curative measures is warranted.
Does Decision-making in End-of-life Care Differ Between Graduating Medical Students and Experienced Physicians?
In Vivo. 2019 May-Jun; 33(3):903-909 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire presenting three cancer patient scenarios concerning decisions and ethical aspects of EOL-care was offered to 500 Finnish GPs and 639 graduating medical students in 2015-2016.
RESULTS: Responses were received from 222 (47%) GPs and 402 (63%) students. The GPs withdrew antibiotics (p<0.001) and nasogastric tubes (p=0.007) and withheld resuscitation (p<0.001), blood transfusions (p=0.002) and pleural drainage (p<0.001) more often than did the students. The students considered euthanasia and assisted suicide less reprehensible (p<0.001 in both) than did the GPs.
CONCLUSION: Medical students were more unwilling to withhold and withdraw therapies in EOL-care than were the GPs, but the students considered euthanasia less reprehensible. Medical education should include aspects of decision-making in EOL-care.
Effectiveness of a 12-month Exercise Intervention on Physical Activity and Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Survivors; Five-year Results of the BREX-study.
In Vivo. 2019 May-Jun; 33(3):881-888 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 12-month exercise intervention was arranged shortly after adjuvant treatments. Physical activity (PA) was assessed by PA diary, physical performance by a 2- km walking test, QoL by the EORTC QLQC30 and BR-23 questionnaires, fatigue by the FACIT-Fatigue scale and depression by the Beck's 13-item depression scale (BDI).
RESULTS: Participants who improved their PA from baseline to 5-year follow-up were more likely to improve their global health score (RRR=1.02, p=0.016), physical (RRR=1.02, p=0.009), social (RRR=1.03, p=0.013), role functioning (RRR=1.03, p=0.005), and fatigue (RRR=1.02, p=0.002). An improved 2-km walking test was associated to improved global health, physical and role functioning, body image, future perspectives, and fatigue (p=0.011, p<0.001, p=0.001, p=0.021, p=0.012 and p=0.003). No significant difference between the groups was found.
CONCLUSION: Improvement in PA or physical performance yields a positive change in QoL of breast cancer patients.
Prognostic and predictive factors in recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A review of the literature.
Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2019; 137:84-91 [PubMed] Related Publications
Critical review of the follow-up protocol for head and neck cancer patients.
J Laryngol Otol. 2019; 133(5):424-429 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHOD: Clinical data of 456 patients with new malignancy of the head and neck from a tertiary care centre district from 1999 to 2008 were analysed. Time from treatment, symptoms and second-line treatment outcomes of patients with recurrent disease were evaluated.
RESULTS: A total of 94 (22 per cent) patients relapsed during the 5-year follow-up period; 90 per cent of recurrences were found within 3 years. Fifty-six per cent of the patients had subjective symptoms indicating a recurrence of the tumour. All recurrent tumours found during routine follow-up visits without symptoms were found within 34 months after completion of treatment.
CONCLUSION: Routine follow up after three years is questionable; recurrent disease beyond this point was detected in only 2 per cent of patients. In this study, all late tumour recurrences had symptoms of the disease. Easy access to extra follow-up visits when symptoms occur could cover the need for late follow up.
The prognostic impact of the cytomegalovirus serostatus in patients with chronic hematological malignancies after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a report from the Infectious Diseases Working Party of EBMT.
Ann Hematol. 2019; 98(7):1755-1763 [PubMed] Related Publications
Genome-wide association and transcriptome studies identify target genes and risk loci for breast cancer.
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):1741 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Relative efficacy of interventions in the treatment of second-line non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
BMC Cancer. 2019; 19(1):353 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
METHODS: MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Biosciences Information Service (using the Dialog Platform), Cochrane Library, and abstracts from scientific meetings were searched for RCTs published up to September 2015. Key outcomes were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Bayesian hierarchical exchangeable NMAs were conducted to calculate mean survival times and relative differences for eight subgroups, using docetaxel as the reference comparator. For OS, the NMA was based on hazard ratios applied to a first-order fractional polynomial model fitted to the reference treatment. For PFS, a second-order fractional polynomial model was fitted to reconstructed patient-level data for the entire network of evidence.
RESULTS: The search identified 30 studies containing 17 different treatment regimens. Docetaxel plus ramucirumab was associated with a significant improvement in OS and PFS, relative to docetaxel, regardless of patient type. Docetaxel plus nintedanib showed similar efficacy to docetaxel plus ramucirumab in the nonsquamous populations. EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) erlotinib and gefitinib showed superior levels of efficacy in EGFR mutation-positive populations and the one PD-1 immunotherapy (nivolumab) studied showed superior efficacy in the populations exhibiting high PD-L1 expression.
CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of head-to-head comparisons, we performed a mixed-treatment analysis to synthesize evidence of the efficacy of each treatment. Benefits are optimized by targeting specific treatments to individual patients guided by histology, PD-L1 expression, and EGFR mutation status.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This review is registered in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42014013780 available at www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO ).
The efficacy and safety of Tipapkinogen Sovacivec therapeutic HPV vaccine in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 and 3: Randomized controlled phase II trial with 2.5 years of follow-up.
Gynecol Oncol. 2019; 153(3):521-529 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: Women 18 years and older who had confirmed CIN2/3 were enrolled in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial and assigned to drug in a 2:1 ratio (vaccine:placebo). The primary endpoint occurred at month 6 when the excisional therapy was performed; cytology and HR HPV typing were performed at months 3, 6 and every six months through month 30. The safety population included all patients who received at least one dose of study drug.
RESULTS: Of the 129 women randomized to vaccine and 63 to placebo, complete resolution was significantly higher in the vaccine group than placebo for CIN 2/3 regardless of the 13 HR HPV types assayed (24% vs. 10%, p < 0.05); as well as for only CIN 3 also regardless of HR HPV type (21% vs. 0%, p < 0.01). Irrespective of baseline HPV infection, viral DNA clearance was higher in the vaccine group compared to placebo (p < 0.01). The vaccine was well tolerated with the most common adverse events being injection site reactions.
CONCLUSIONS: The TS vaccine provides histologic clearance of CIN 2/3 irrespective of HR HPV type in one third of subjects and is generally safe through 30 months.
Cytoplasmic E-Cadherin Expression Is Associated With Higher Tumour Level of VEGFA, Lower Response Rate to Irinotecan-based Treatment and Poorer Prognosis in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.
Anticancer Res. 2019; 39(4):1953-1957 [PubMed] Related Publications
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, patients diagnosed with mCRC between August 1, 1998, and August 30, 2003, at the Turku University Hospital, Finland were included. Expression of E-cadherin (membranous and cytoplasmic pattern) and VEGFA in tumour samples was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Tumours were classified as E-cadherin expressers if they demonstrated moderate or strong cytoplasmic or membranous staining, while those positive for VEGFA expression showed a moderate or strong cytoplasmic staining. Of particular interest was the association between membranous or cytoplasmic expression of E-cadherin and VEGFA. The value of strong VEGF-A staining and membranous or cytoplasmic expression of E-cadherin as a predictor of disease outcome over a 6-year period was another point of interest in this study.
RESULTS: Of the 67 patients with mCRC, 43 (64%) had tumours positive for cytoplasmic E-cadherin, while in 24 cases (36%), E-cadherin expression was membranous. Strong VEGFA staining was present in half of the cases (n=36, 54% of all 67 mCRC cases). VEGFA expression was significantly correlated with cytoplasmic E-cadherin expression in that 28/36 cases of VEGFA-positive tumours were also positive for cytoplasmic E-cadherin (p=0.012). In addition, among the patients with intense VEGFA expression (n=36), those who had positive cytoplasmic E-cadherin in their tumours had a lower response-rate to first-line therapy with irinotecan, fluorouracil and leucovorin regimen: 5 out of 36 (14%) were chemosensitive. This is in contrast to the patients with VEGFA-positive tumours and membranous E-cadherin (8/36, 22% chemosensitive (p=0.004). The former group also had more ominous prognosis (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Reduced membranous expression of E-cadherin and increased cytoplasmic E-cadherin expression predict poor survival in mCRC.
Cytopathological features of secretory carcinoma of salivary glands and ancillary techniques in its diagnostics: impact of new Milan system for reporting salivary gland cytopathology.
APMIS. 2019; 127(7):491-502 [PubMed] Related Publications
Effects of Obesity Surgery on Overall and Disease-Specific Mortality in a 5-Country Population-Based Study.
Gastroenterology. 2019; 157(1):119-127.e1 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: We performed a population-based cohort study of persons with a diagnosis of obesity listed in nationwide registries from Nordic countries from 1980 through 2012. Bariatric surgery was analyzed in relation to all-cause mortality and the obesity-related morbidities cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and suicide. Poisson models provided standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Multivariable Cox regression provided hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality in participants who did and did not have surgery.
RESULTS: Among 505,258 participants, 49,977 had bariatric surgery. Overall all-cause SMR was increased after surgery (1.94; 95% CI, 1.83-2.05) and increased with longer follow-up, to 2.28 (95% CI, 2.07-2.51) at ≥15 years after surgery. SMRs were increased for cardiovascular disease (2.39; 95% CI, 2.17-2.63), diabetes (3.67; 95% CI, 2.85-4.72), and suicide (2.39; 95% CI, 1.96-2.92) but not for cancer (1.05; 95% CI, 0.95-1.17); SMRs increased with time. In obese participants who did not have surgery, all-cause SMR was 2.15 (95% CI, 2.11-2.20), which remained stable during follow-up. Compared with obese participants who did not have surgery, patients who had bariatric surgery had decreased overall mortality from all causes (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.60-0.66), cardiovascular disease (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.52-0.63), and diabetes (HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.29-0.49) but increased mortality from suicide (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.32-2.14). Cancer mortality was decreased overall (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.76-0.93) but increased at ≥15 years of follow-up (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02-1.42).
CONCLUSIONS: In a study of persons with a diagnosis of obesity listed in nationwide registries of Nordic countries, we found that obese patients who have bariatric surgery have longer survival times than obese individuals who did not have bariatric surgery, but their mortality is higher than that of the general population and increases with time. Obesity-related morbidities could account for these findings.
The expression and prognostic value of stem cell markers Bmi-1, HESC5:3, and HES77 in human papillomavirus-positive and -negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Tumour Biol. 2019; 41(3):1010428319840473 [PubMed] Related Publications
Cancer-related fatigue and sleep deficiency in cancer care continuum: concepts, assessment, clusters, and management.
Support Care Cancer. 2019; 27(7):2747-2753 [PubMed] Related Publications
Impact of Brush Cytology Analysis for the Diagnosis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The Quality of Liquid-Based Preparation of Cytological Slides.
Acta Cytol. 2019; 63(3):240-246 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: Cytological and biopsy specimens were prospectively taken during esophagogastroduodenoscopy of 123 individuals in 2013 and 2014. Cytology samples were maintained in preservative fluid until processing and biopsies were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded.
RESULTS: Based on endoscopic biopsy results, 70 cases were positive for ESCC whilst 53 were negative for cancer. In addition, brush cytology showed high sensitivity and specificity (98.57 and 96.23%, respectively) in detecting the disease, and high accuracy (97.5%) comparable to that provided by histopathology which is the accepted gold standard.
CONCLUSION: Brush cytology specimens preserved in liquid medium may be a good alternative for ESCC diagnosis.