Pattern of utilization of mammography: experience from Benin City, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

"Mammographic screening is employed to detect breast cancer early before it metastasize; thereby reducing the high mortality associated with breast cancer. The study aims at assessing the pattern of usage of screening mammography for breast cancer in a private centre which will serve as a guide in the extrapolation of the findings to its serving states (Edo and Delta). Mammographic data from a private center in Benin was retrieved and analyzed using SPSS (version 15). The 203 mammograms in this study were done between 2007 and 2009 using the BIRADS lexicon for reporting. Data on family history of breast cancer from questionnaires administered prior to the mammography were also retrieved. Only 15.6of the clients had screening mammography done. Detected breast masses and positive family history of breast cancer were significantly more in the clients for diagnostic mammography. Until a concrete well-enforced national breast cancer screening policy is enacted; the use of screening mammography will remain low. Public enlightenment campaign on the usefulness of screening mammography; not limited to the ""at-risk"" group; should be part of this policy. It is ideal that patients/clients for breast imaging should have all such radiological evaluation done at a single center with trained breast imaging radiologists for comparative evaluation and ease of arriving at a correct diagnosis"