[Breast cancer screening: characteristics and results of the Spanish programs].
OBJECTIVE
To describe national and regional indicators of process and outcome of breast cancer screening programs in Spain.


METHODS
Overall results and broken down by regions are studied for the period 2007-2008. Outcome indicators (participation, cancer detection rate and characteristics of tumors detected) and process indicators (and intermediate mammograms), classified by types of women screened (initial and consequent regular and irregular) and age groups, are analyzed. Results are compared with reference values established in the European Guidelines.


RESULTS
Breast cancer screening coverage is 100% in the country. The overall participation was 69.68% with an adherence of 91.35%. Further assessments of any procedure were performed in 4.93% and invasive further assessments in 0.66%. Intermediate mammograms were indicated in 3.56%. The detection rate was 3.49‰ (5.35‰ age-adjusted); 14.29% of the tumors were intraductal. The 29.49% of the invasive tumors were≤1cm in diameter with 62.22% showing no axillary lymph node involvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the variability evident in the data provided by the different autonomous communities and the need to improve the homogeneity of information systems as a whole, the assessed indicators meet the standards specified in the European guidelines.
Programa de Detección Precoz de Cáncer de Mama de Navarra, Instituto de Salud Pública, CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública CIBERESP, Pamplona, Navarra, España. nascunce@cfnavarra.es
Nieves
N
Ascunce
Josu
J
Delfrade
Dolores
D
Salas
Raquel
R
Zubizarreta
María
M
Ederra
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006078:Government Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology