Aarts AMWM, et al. - Among breast cancer survivors, researchers evaluated the sensitivity and the duration of the preclinical detectable phase (PCDP) of clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography for the detection of contralateral second breast cancers (CBC). Between 1980 and 2005, 589 Women with a CBC diagnosed in Florence were included. Using a simple exponential model of PCDP duration, test sensitivity and the duration of PCDP were estimated. According to results, the test sensitivity for CBE was 55% and the duration of the PCDP was 16 months. Poor CBE test sensitivity was observed with a shorter PCDP duration vs mammography. Mammography had high sensitivity to the test and the potential for early detection of CBCs. The PCDP's estimated duration (35 months) was significantly longer than the recommended follow-up interval (12 months). No difference was found in the duration of PCDP of CBE.