Screening mammography program of British Columbia.
In an attempt to diagnose breast carcinoma as early as possible, a government-funded screening mammography program in British Columbia discovered 29 malignancies in the first 7,100 women screened. The program was carefully planned by a group consisting of representatives of all appropriate constituents. The screenees have demonstrated the anticipated increased frequency with increasing age and risk factors; in addition, the frequency of diagnosis is markedly lower in screenees who have had mammograms within the 2 previous years. Exclusive of equipment costs, amortization, and data processing, the cost per study is $33.81 (Canadian), resulting in a cost of $8,277.62 for each case diagnosed. This includes, for each study, an administrative fee of $1.00 as well as $1.00 devoted to continuing education for the reading radiologists. The success of the program has resulted in encouragement from the Health Ministry to expand rapidly throughout the Province, including use of a mobile van in more remote areas. Continued monitoring and peer review will ensure standard quality control in all of the screening facilities.
Clay
M G
MG
Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000191:economics; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors