A mammographic screening pilot project in Victoria 1988-1990. The Essendon Breast X-ray Program Collaborative Group.
OBJECTIVE
To pilot and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability to women of population based mammographic screening in Victoria.


METHODS
Pilot intervention study in a geographically and demographically defined population.


METHODS
Area of contiguous postcodes surrounding the Breast X-ray Unit at the Essendon Hospital.


METHODS
Women aged 50 to 69 years living in the target area.


METHODS
Attendance rates, satisfaction, screening rates, surgical biopsy rates, breast cancer detection rates, and surgical treatment.


RESULTS
Forty-one per cent of eligible women in the denominator population attended the Breast X-ray Unit in the two-year period; 16,424 women were screened, including 141 women with previous breast cancer. Of every 1000 women screened, 74 were recalled because of mammograms that were suggestive of malignancy, 19 because of technically inadequate mammograms and 16 because of symptoms. All mammograms were read by two radiologists and consensus was required for 12% of films. Of every 1000 asymptomatic women screened, 12.7 had biopsies performed and in 7.1 cancers were detected. In asymptomatic women, the positive predictive value of an abnormal mammogram was 9.4%, and the positive predictive value of a recommendation for biopsy was 55.9%. A total of 131 malignancies were detected, of which 24 (18%) were carcinoma-in-situ. The benign to malignant biopsy ratio was 1:1.31. In 82% of women in whom cancer was detected the breast was conserved.


CONCLUSIONS
The Program achieved good standards with respect to mammographic detection, clinical assessment and treatment of women with breast cancer.
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014739:Victoria