title: Pattern of breast diseases in Accra: review of mammography reports.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the mammographic patterns in females seeking medical attention in Accra.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analytic retrospective study was conducted using data extracted from mammography request forms and corresponding radiological reports of 180 females.
  
  
  METHODS
  The radiology departments of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital the Trust Hospital and Medical Imaging Ghana all located in Accra.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and eighty radiologic request forms for mammographic evaluations and their corresponding reports from the study period were reviewed. The mean age of the study population was 48.7 years (SD=10.0), and the median age group was the 41-50 group. There were more screening mammography evaluations (115 examinations) than diagnostic mammography evaluations (65 examinations). Most of the cases diagnosed as breast cancer were in the age group 41-50 years. Benign lesions were commoner than cancer (55 and 16 cases respectively). The commonest presenting complaint was of pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The larger number of screening mammographic evaluations conducted for asymptomatic females during the study period, as compared to diagnostic mammographic evaluations for symptomatic females, suggests that educational programs on early breast cancer detection are having a positive impact on the target population. The observation that 22.8% of lesions had features suggestive of breast cancer in the study is significantly high to also warrant intensification of the existing awareness programs. As non-specific masses were the most common radiographically observed lesions, hospitals equipped with sonography and biopsy facilities that compliment their mammography are better suited for thorough breast disease evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Ghana of Medical School, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Brakohiapa
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Armah
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Ghana of Medical School, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: J N A
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Clegg-Lamptey
authors.affiliation: Radiology Faculty Chairman, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Brakohiapa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mammography; diagnostic study; ductal carcinoma in situ; invasive ductal carcinoma; screening study; sonography