Publication of CDC Surveillance Summaries

Since 1983, CDC has published the CDC Surveillance Summaries under separate cover as part of the MMWR series. Each report published in the CDC Surveillance Summaries focuses on public health surveillance; surveillance findings are reported for a broad range of risk factors and health conditions.

Summaries for each of the reports published in the most recent (April 24, 1992) issue of the CDC Surveillance Summaries (1) are provided below. All subscribers to MMWR receive the CDC Surveillance Summaries, as well as the MMWR Recommendations and Reports, as part of their subscriptions.

BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER SURVEILLANCE, UNITED STATES, 1973-1987

Breast and cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates were reviewed for the period 1973-1987. For breast cancer, mortality has been relatively stable, increasing from 26.9 per 100,000 women in 1973 to 27.1 in 1987. Alternatively, data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) showed a 36% increase in the incidence of this malignancy over the same period. In 1987, overall incidence of invasive breast cancer was 111.9 per 100,000 women. White women experienced lower overall mortality rates and higher overall incidence than black women; however, these differences varied by age. Examination of breast cancer incidence by stage of disease at diagnosis revealed that rates for distant and regional disease have remained relatively stable since 1973. In contrast, rates of localized and in situ cancers exhibited an increase in the 1980s that may correspond to increased use of mammography in this country.

The rate of decline in cervical cancer incidence and mortality has slowed in recent years. In 1987, 3.0 cervical cancer deaths per 100,000 women occurred. SEER incidence for invasive disease for that year was 8.2 per 100,000. Rates varied by race, age, state, and stage of disease. In general, black women experienced much higher incidence and mortality from invasive cervical cancer than white women. For both races, rates of in situ disease were highest among young women and decreased rapidly with age. Rates of in situ cervical cancer were consistently higher than rates of invasive cancer for the time period studied. Authors: Judith R. Qualters, Ph.D., M.P.H., Nancy C. Lee, M.D., Robert A. Smith, Ph.D., Division of Cancer Prevention and Control; Ronald E. Aubert, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., Office of Surveillance and Analysis, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC.

CANCER SCREENING BEHAVIORS AMONG U.S. WOMEN: BREAST CANCER, 1987-1989, AND CERVICAL CANCER, 1988-1989

Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were used to examine trends in breast and cervical cancer screening behaviors among U.S. women in selected states. Data reported are from the 1987, 1988, and 1989 BRFSS for breast cancer screening (mammography) and from the 1988 and 1989 BRFSS for cervical cancer screening (Papanicolaou (Pap) smear). Results are presented as either state-specific or state-aggregate data for the years noted above.

State-specific analyses indicated that self-reported mammography utilization increased between 1987 and 1989. Although whites and blacks reported similar mammography utilization rates both for screening and for a current or previous breast problem, disparities were evident among women of different ages and incomes. The proportion of women who reported ever having had a Pap smear and having heard of a Pap smear were extremely high and remained fairly consistent across the 2 survey years. State-aggregate analyses, however, showed that the percentage of women who had a Pap smear within the previous year was negatively associated with age and positively associated with income. A higher proportion of blacks than whites obtained Pap smears. These results indicate that certain segments of the population are not taking full advantage of available breast and cervical cancer screening technologies. Public health strategies, such as those outlined in the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-354), should enhance screening opportunities for these women. Authors: Susan P. Ackermann, Ph.D., M.A., Epidemiology and Statistics Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control; Robert M. Brackbill, Ph.D., M.P.H., Behavioral Surveillance Branch, Office of Surveillance and Analysis; Barbara A. Bewerse, M.N., M.P.H., Nancy E. Cheal, R.N., M.S., Health Promotion and Training Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC. Lee M. Sanderson, Ph.D., M.A., Remedial Programs Branch, Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

SURVEILLANCE OF CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS DISEASE, 1990-1991

In January 1990, a registry was initiated for surveillance of infants with the often severe symptoms of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. In the first 2 years, 100 cases were reported to the registry. Petechiae, the most commonly noted clinical sign, were reported for approximately 50% of infants, usually accompanied by hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Of the various severe neurologic conditions that can result from congenital CMV infection, the most frequent was intracranial calcifications, which were noted in 43% of the cases. The most common laboratory abnormality was low platelet count, which was observed in 52% of the cases. Infants with severe neurologic damage were about twice as likely as infants with less severe damage to have most other clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities. Data bases will be developed to facilitate comparisons among symptomatically infected infants and asymptomatically infected as well as noninfected infants. Authors: James G. Dobbins, Ph.D., John A. Stewart, M.D., Viral Exanthems and Herpesvirus Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC. Gail J. Demmler, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine; and the Collaborating Registry Group.

Reference

1. CDC. CDC surveillance summaries. MMWR 1992;41(no. SS-2).

Disclaimer   All MMWR HTML documents published before January 1993 are electronic conversions from ASCII text into HTML. This conversion may have resulted in character translation or format errors in the HTML version. Users should not rely on this HTML document, but are referred to the original MMWR paper copy for the official text, figures, and tables. An original paper copy of this issue can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402-9371; telephone: (202) 512-1800. Contact GPO for current prices.

Page converted: 08/05/98

HOME  |  ABOUT MMWR  |  MMWR SEARCH  |  DOWNLOADS  |  RSS |  CONTACT POLICY  |  DISCLAIMER  |  ACCESSIBILITY

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd, MailStop E-90, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A Department of Health and Human Services

This page last reviewed 5/2/01