Table 2. Comparison of major indicators among screening programme guidelines, Ticino (south of Switzerland) data and other population-based studies.

Parameter	Screening Programme Guidelines	Ticino (south of Switzerland) 1996–2007	Other population-based studies a
Proportion of in situ cancers	NA	6.1%	7.4 and 10% in the Netherlandsb,c 13 and 15% in the United Statesd,e
Proportion of in situ cancers (50–69 years)	10–20%	8.4%	11.6% in the Netherlandsc 12.3% in Genevaf,g 12.5% in Vaudf,g
Proportion of invasive cancers with tumour size ⩽10 mm (50–69 years)	⩾25–30%	18.2%h	26.1% in Genevaf,g 30.1% in Vaudf,g
Proportion of invasive cancers with tumour size ⩽20 mm (50–69 years)	NA	63.5%h	70.4% in Genevaf,g 70.1% in Vaudf,g
Median tumour size for invasive cancers (mm)	NA	19 mm	15 mm in Rhode Islandd 15 mm in Denmarki 20 mm in Denmarki
Mean tumour size for invasive cancers (mm)	NA	21 mm	20 mm in Rhode Islandd
Proportion of invasive cancers with negative lymph node	>70–75%	60%	53.7% in Denmarki 43.3% in Denmarki 64.7% in Rhode Islandd
Proportion of invasive tumours with stage I	NA	40.2%	39% in the Netherlandsb 43% in Denmarki 29% in Denmarki 53.5% in Rhode Islandd
Proportion of invasive tumours with stage II+	<25–30%	59.8%	57% in the Netherlandsb 46.5% in Rhode Islandd

Abbreviation: NA=not available.

^aAll results come from regions where an organised screening programme is implemented, with the exception of those reported in italics, resulting from opportunistic screening.

^bLouwman et al (2008).

^cvan Steenbergen et al (2008).

^dCoburn et al (2004).

^eMalmgren et al (2008).

^fBulliard et al (2009).

^gSchopper and de Wolf (2007).

^hData for the period 2000–2005, with the aim of being comparable with other Swiss data (i.e., Geneva and Vaud).

ⁱJensen et al (2008).