INHERITED PREDISPOSITION TO BREAST-CARCINOMA, RESULTS OF FIRST ROUND EXAMINATION OF 537 WOMEN AT RISK

Five hundred and thirty seven women at risk for breast carcinoma were identified. Family history was detailed and each woman given genetic c ounselling. Diagnostic examination for breast car cinoma was performed at the major hospitals of Norway, and included physical examination b y expert surgeon, mammography and/or ultrasonography, and fine needle aspiration cytology when appropriate. Altogether 8 carcinomas and 5 ca ses of atypical hyperplasia were found, compared with 1.6 and 0.3 expe cted, respectively, from population studies. The finding exceeded the expected numbers described by autosomal dominant inheritance. In addit ion we found one carcinoma in situ. It is concluded that the methods e mployed are suitable to identify and examined women at risk for breast carcinoma. It is suggested that atypical hyperplasia may be the preca ncerous lesion, and should be treated as such.