Performance data of screening mammography at a dedicated breast health centre.
BACKGROUND
Mammographic screening has become part of routine health care. We present a first analysis of screening mammography in a dedicated breast health centre in Africa.


OBJECTIVE
To establish a performance benchmark and provide data for health care policy and funding decisions on screening mammography.


METHODS
All mammography performed between January 2003 and August 2008 was entered into a prospective database. Mammography was performed exclusively by certified mammographers and double-read by experienced readers.


RESULTS
Outcomes were classified in a simplified classification system based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRADS). In 40 - 49-year-old women, 3 192 mammograms led to a recall rate of 4.7%, a biopsy rate of 1.9% and a cancer diagnosis rate of 3.8 per 1 000 examinations; for women of 50 years and older, the corresponding figures were 4 446, 5.4%, 2.6% and 9.7 per 1 000. Of the cancers detected, 31% were in situ and, of the invasive cancers, 81% were node-negative. These figures were established by a dedicated surgeon-led team and fall within the range expected in organised screening programmes in resource-rich environments, providing a first benchmark for screening mammography in Africa.
Department of Surgery, Stellenbosch University, W Cape. jpa@sun.ac.za
J P
JP
Apffelstaedt
V
V
Steenkamp
K
K
Baatjes
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013019:South Africa