Guidance

Breast screening: interval cancers

How to report, classify and monitor interval cancers and cancers following previous assessment.

• From: NHS England
• Published: 8 August 2017
• Last updated: 11 November 2024
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  1. 11 November 2024

     This guidance has been revised specifically to clarify the following points: • the requirement for a nominated lead in the service to coordinate the identification of ICs and the review process. This is to provide improved oversight of interval cancer monitoring and audit. • a change to inform that the full pathology dataset for ICs (IC collection form 3) is no longer mandatory. These data may be obtained from other sources so duplication is not required. • the requirement for data entry on ICs to be checked by a second person. This is to ensure that data entry is robust and valid. • how to classify ICs from previous assessment where the woman has declined diagnostic procedures. This helps to clarify the categorisation of interval cancers. • how to classify ICs where assessment was undertaken at a different service to where screening occurred. This helps to clarify the categorisation of interval cancers. • how to categorise previously assessed cancers where the IC arose at the same site and side which was assessed but screening assessment was adequate. This helps to clarify the categorisation of interval cancers. • that trainees (Fellows) are not allowed to undertake previous assessment reviews (PARs). This clarification is to ensure that PARs are performed by experienced staff. • the arrangements for IC review where support is required from other services. This is to provide guidance for services where capacity for interval cancer review is limited. • the new process of local annual learning reviews of ICs led by the director of breast screening. This is to ensure that services regularly audit performance in relation to interval cancers with appropriate oversight by the screening director. • the dates for when Duty of Candour applies to ICs in the programme. This information is for information purposes to allow services to comply with this statutory legislation and had previously been circulated to services as advice but had not been incorporated into guidance.

  2. 25 February 2021

     Added information to 'Overview' section to explain that the management of women screening through family history services is governed by NICE guidance.

  3. 29 July 2020

     Guidance updated after programme review.

  4. 8 August 2017

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Breast screening: reporting, classification and monitoring of interval cancers and cancers following previous assessment

Ref: PHE publications gateway number GW-1444

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Breast screening: interval cancer collection forms

Ref: PHE publications gateway number GW-1444

ODT, 102 KB

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Breast screening: previous assessment review form

Ref: PHE publications gateway number GW-1444

ODT, 19.1 KB

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Breast screening: interval cancer pathway

Ref: PHE publications gateway number GW-1444

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Breast screening: screen detected pathway

Ref: PHE publications gateway number GW-1444

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Details

Interval cancers are cancers that are diagnosed in between screening episodes only within the routine population and very high risk NHS breast screening programmes. The management of women screened through family history services is governed by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.

This document provides advice for services on:

• reporting, classification and monitoring of interval cancers
• how to carry out reviews for cancers that occur following a previous assessment

See Breast screening: interval cancers and duty of candour toolkit for guidance on the role of breast screening and symptomatic services in identifying interval cancers and giving results to women.