DISCOVERY METHOD AND STAGE OF BREAST-CANCER IN 2 DIFFERENT PATIENT POPULATIONS

Our purpose was to determine the discovery method and stage of newly d iscovered breast cancers at two different medical centers, To do this, we conducted a retrospective chart review at our urban and suburban t eaching hospitals during 1991 through 1992 and 1992, respectively, Onl y 29 (26%) of 112 cancers at our urban hospital were discovered mammog raphically; 38 (38%) of 100 neoplasms were discovered using mammograph y at our suburban hospital, At both institutions, the mammographically discovered cancers had a lower stage than those detected clinically, Despite proven benefits and the efforts of organizations such as the A merican College of Radiology and the American Cancer Society screening mammography remains underused in the patient populations that we stud ied.