Abstract
The results and problems related to the introduction of screening mammography were investigated. Screening mammography was performed on 6, 809 women in St. Luke's Center for Preventive Medicine between April 1999 and March 2000. Patients in the mammography group received clinical breast examination and screening mammography (MLO and CC views). A physical examination alone was done for the rest of the patients, who made up the PE group. The mammographs were interpreted by five experienced radiologists, using the following groupings : normal, benign, dense breast (DB), further examination (FE), needing biopsy (NB) and needing treatment (NT). All patients pointing out a breast mass after self-examination or classified as DB, FE, NB or NT were referred to a breast surgeon to assess malignancy. Of the 2, 579 mammography group patients, 703 were referred to our department, and 588 (83.6%) were examined. Breast cancer was diagnosed in 10 cases. Of the 4, 198 BE group patients, 125 were referred to a surgeon. Ninety patients (72.0%) were examined and breast cancer was diagnosed in six cases. The cancer detection rate was significantly higher in the mammography group than in the PE group (p =0.043). DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) and T 1 breast cancer was diagnosed in the mammography group more often than in the PE group (p=0.071, 0.077 respectively). We found that each radiologist interpreted the tests slightly differently. From this we recommend that education and training in the standard classification of screening mammography be made mandatory.
