title: Breast cancer screening.
abstract: Mammographic screening reduces breast cancer mortality by 24% in women aged > or = 50 years. Women aged 50-53 are invited for their first screen in the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP), thereafter at three-year intervals until the age of 64. Two-view mammography is offered at the first (prevalent) screening examination and one-view for subsequent (incident) screens. The screening films are sorted into either 'normal' or 'abnormal requiring further assessment'. Assessment is carried out by a specialist multidisciplinary team using the triple approach: clinical examination, imaging and, where appropriate, needle biopsy. Imaging is planned according to the mammographic abnormality--paddle compression view to assess parenchymal distortion, magnification view to assess microcalcification. After confirmation of a suspicious abnormality, needle biopsy is performed. Results of triple assessment are considered together by the multidisciplinary team and further management is planned. There are four likely outcomes: benign/normal, confirmed breast cancer, suspicious but needing diagnostic surgical excision, and diagnostic uncertainty needing early recall for screening.
authors.affiliation: South East London Breast Screening Programme, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Michell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D008875:Middle Aged; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology