[Assessment of results in the early diagnosis of breast cancer program in Asturias Community].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and disseminate the intermediate results of a breast cancer early detection program in the Asturias Community.


METHODS
We report the results of screening examinations performed between 2005 and 2009, using the indicators proposed in the European Guidelines on Quality Assurance in Mammography Screening. The information sources for breast cancer cases diagnosed were the pathology information system and the information on the characteristics of the tumour from the pathology report. The classification of the diagnostic features of the program was from its own information system.


RESULTS
A total of 1,384 breast cancers were diagnosed in the program target population during the study period, of which 49% were diagnosed in the program, 13% were interval cancers, 17% were diagnosed in women who chose not to participate in the program, and 22% in women who for various reasons had not been invited to participate. The most advanced diagnoses were made in the group of interval cancers and the earliest diagnoses were made in the uninvited population.


CONCLUSIONS
When the healthcare system is directed towards the asymptomatic population to provide a measure of prevention, it must ensure that there is a favourable balance. The results of this evaluation are consistent with accepted standards and with those found in other assessments.
Programa de Detección Precoz de Cáncer de Mama, Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias. carmen.natal@sespa.princast.es
Carmen
C
Natal
María Teresa
MT
Suárez
Susana
S
Serrano
Concepción
C
Díaz
Cristina
C
González
Primitiva
P
Menéndez
Rubén
R
Castañón
María Luisa
ML
García
Elena
E
Blázquez
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain