Abstract
We performed breast cancer screening using mammography and ultrasonography, combined with clinical breast examination in individuals attending for voluntary general medical check-ups. Of 11, 480 subjects screened, 757 subjects (6.6%) were recalled for closer examination, with 48 subjects subsequently diagnosed as having breast cancer, 29 of them in the early stages. Conservative surgery was performed on 20 of these patients.
Detection rates were 0.04%, 0.56%, 0.44% and 0.54% in subjects aged 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and over 60 years. As there was a sharp increase in subjects over 40, we consider breast cancer screening most appropriate for women aged 40-49 years. Detection rates in a sample of 48 patients by clinical breast examination, ultrasonography and mammography were 33.3%, 89.6% and 70.8%, respectively, indicating that ultrasonography is more useful mammography in screening for breast cancer. Ultrasonography and mammography would be the most effective approach to breast cancer screening.
