title: Presumed prevalence analysis on suspected and highly suspected breast cancer lesions in São Paulo using BIRADS criteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Breast cancer screening programs are critical for early detection of breast cancer. Early detection is essential for diagnosing, treating and possibly curing breast cancer. Since there are no data on the incidence of breast cancer, nationally or regionally in Brazil, our aim was to assess women by means of mammography, to determine the prevalence of this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study protocol was designed in collaboration between the Department of Diagnostic Imaging (DDI), Institute of Diagnostic Imaging (IDI) and São Paulo Municipal Health Program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 139,945 Brazilian women were assessed by means of mammography between April 2002 and September 2004. Using the American College of Radiology (ACR) criteria (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, BIRADS), the prevalence of suspected and highly suspected breast lesions were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of suspected (BIRADS 4) and highly suspected (BIRADS 5) lesions increased with age, especially after the fourth decade. Accordingly, BIRADS 4 and BIRADS 5 lesions were more prevalent in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh decades.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presumed prevalence of suspected and highly suspected breast cancer lesions in the population of São Paulo was 0.6% and it is similar to the prevalence of breast cancer observed in other populations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Imaging, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. vivian.milani@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.forename: Suzan Menasce
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Finguerman
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinotti
authors.forename: Celso Scazufka
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Nitamar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdalla
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szejnfeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies