MAMMOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF THE SYMPTOMATIC NONSUSPICIOUS BREAST

BACKGROUND: Evidence from breast screening programs demonstrates the v alue of mammography in the detection of asymptomatic breast cancer. ME THODS: This Study prospectively assessed the role of mammography in th e management of 585 patients presenting to a breast clinic, over a 1-y ear period, with symptomatic breast disease and without clinical or cy tological evidence of malignancy. RESULTS: Eighteen (3%) of these pati ents had breast cancer. Eight patients presenting with nonspecific nod ularity had carcinoma. All patients had relatively early disease. CONC LUSIONS: This study suggests that patients with symptomatic disease pr esenting to a breast clinic represent a group at higher risk of malign ancy than screened asymptomatic patients, and that symptomatic women o ver 40 years of age should have bilateral mammography before being dis charged from the breast clinic. (C) 1997 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.