Diagnostic delay in cancer of the breast.

The occurence of delay in the diagnosis of breast cancer was investigated in 115 women with breast cancer. Earlier breast disease and earlier consultations for breast symptoms were thoroughly inquired about and analysed. The part of "diagnostic delay" referred to "doctor's delay" occurred in one fifth of the breast cancer patients but in one third of the patients under 50 years of age compared to one seventh of the patients over 50 years. The reasons for delay were: incomplete investigation of palpable or suspected breast tumour, non-representativeness of surgical biopsy or of slides taken for histopathological examination, underestimation of atypia at histopathological examination, unsatisfactory follow-up after biopsy of suspected tumour.