Cytology is useful in breast screening: results and long-term follow-up of the Singapore Breast Screening Pilot Project.
OBJECTIVE
The Singapore Breast Screening Pilot Project (SBSPP) was embarked upon (1994-1997) to determine if mammography was useful in early breast cancer detection among Asian women.


METHODS
Of 28 231 women screened, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed in 232 individuals as part of the triple assessment.


RESULTS
Absolute and complete sensitivities for the diagnosis of carcinoma were 46.7% and 82.2%, respectively, based on the results of FNAC. Specificity was 63.3%. The inadequate rate was 31%. Five women who were considered cancer-free on triple assessment and, in two cases open diagnostic biopsy during the SBSPP, subsequently developed breast cancer after a median follow-up of 6 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Although our FNAC results compared relatively well with international standards, they reflect a small cohort, and may face additional difficulties in a larger programme.
Chew
I
I
Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Tan
Y
Y
Tan
P H
PH
D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003585:Cell Biology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012846:Singapore