SynthesisBMC cancer2017
Prevalence of incidental breast cancer and precursor lesions in autopsy studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 65 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prevalence of incidental colorectal cancer and polyps in autopsies of different populations: a systematic review with meta-regression analysis.European journal of epidemiology · 2023Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Prevalence of Subclinical Papillary Thyroid Cancer by Age: Meta-analysis of Autopsy Studies.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2022Pooled it
- Use of artificial intelligence for image analysis in breast cancer screening programmes: systematic review of test accuracy.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2021Pooled it
- Breast cancer diagnosis at age 85 and older.Breast cancer research and treatment · 2025Article
- Evidence categories in systematic assessment of cancer overdiagnosis.BMJ evidence-based medicine · 2025Review
- Association analysis of germline mutations in CHEK2, PALB2, NBN and RECQL with the risk of ductal carcinoma in situ in Polish women.Hereditary cancer in clinical practice · 2025Article
- Death-ision: the link between cellular resilience and cancer resistance to treatments.Molecular cancer · 2025Review
- Mitigating overtreatment of ductal carcinoma in situ.Radiology advances · 2025Review
- Article
- Review
- Changes in the incidence of early-onset breast cancer in Germany between 2010 and 2022.Breast cancer research and treatment · 2023Article
- Should low-risk DCIS lose the cancer label? An evidence review.Breast cancer research and treatment · 2023Review
- The effects of exercise on the quality of life of patients with breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on the QLQ-C30 quality of life scale.Gland surgery · 2023Article
- Need assessment for the content of educational programs about breast cancer from the viewpoint of unaffected women.BMC women's health · 2023Article
- Article
- Prevalence of Imaging-Detected Silent Female Breast Cancer in Autopsy Specimens: A Study Using Image-Guided Biopsies.Cureus · 2022Article
- A Comprehensive Review of Pathological Examination in Forensic Medicine: Past, Present, and Future.Cureus · 2022Review
- Reframing How Physical Activity Reduces The Incidence of Clinically-Diagnosed Cancers: Appraising Exercise-Induced Immuno-Modulation As An Integral Mechanism.Frontiers in oncology · 2022Review
- Intraductal Papilloma of the Breast: Prevalence of Malignancy and Natural History Under Active Surveillance.Annals of surgical oncology · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAutopsy studies demonstrate the prevalence pool of incidental breast cancer in the population, but estimates are uncertain due to small numbers in any primary study. We aimed to conduct a systematic review of autopsy studies to estimate the prevalence of incidental breast cancer and precursors.
methodsRelevant articles were identified through searching PubMed and Embase from inception up to April 2016, and backward and forward citations. We included autopsy studies of women with no history of breast pathology, which included systematic histological examination of at least one breast, and which allowed calculation of the prevalence of incidental breast cancer or precursor lesions. Data were pooled using logistic regression models with random intercepts (non-linear mixed models).
resultsWe included 13 studies from 1948 to 2010, contributing 2363 autopsies with 99 cases of incidental cancer or precursor lesions. More thorough histological examination (≥20 histological sections) was a strong predictor of incidental in-situ cancer and atypical hyperplasia (OR = 126·8 and 21·3 respectively, p < 0·001), but not invasive cancer (OR = 1·1, p = 0·75). The estimated mean prevalence of incidental cancer or precursor lesion was 19·5% (0·85% invasive cancer + 8·9% in-situ cancer + 9·8% atypical hyperplasia).
conclusionOur systematic review in ten countries over six decades found that incidental detection of cancer in situ and breast cancer precursors is common in women not known to have breast disease during life. The large prevalence pool of undetected cancer in-situ and atypical hyperplasia in these autopsy studies suggests screening programs should be cautious about introducing more sensitive tests that may increase detection of these lesions.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.