Breast Cancer Early Detection Clinic lead in Department of Radiology: Early Experiences

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To describe the operation of our Breast Cancer Early Detection Clinic, lead by a radiologist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From its opening in July 2000, until September 2001, patients who attended the Breast Cancer Early Detection Clinic at the Department of Radiology were referred mainly from the Health Promotion Center. Additional radiologic examinations were performed immediately, and according to the results, patients were either referred at once to a surgical clinic or a follow-up schedule was arranged for them there. The no-show rate, patient distribution, chief complaint, type and number of additional radiologic examinations, patient compliance rate, biopsy result, rate of cancer detection, and staging of cancers were determined. The merits and demerits of the clinic were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 671 patients attended, with a no-show rate of 13.2%. Referrals from the Health Promation Centre accounted for 90.4% of patient visits. The most frequent complaint was a suspicious nodule at mammography. One additional radiologic examination was performed in 429 patients, two examinations in 70, and three or more examations in five. The most frequent type of examination was ultrasonography, followed by magnification compression view, mammography, and ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy. An additional radiologic examination was recommended in 81.2% of patients and compliance rate was 96.7%. Primary breast cancer was diagnosed in 16 patients (2.1%), and was found to be stage 0 and 1 in 64.3% of these. No significant demerits were apparent. CONCLUSION: Radiologic examinations play a very important role in the detection of early-stage breast cancer, and the establishment of an early detection clinic lead by a radiologist is a very effective and recommendable approach to screening.