SCREENING FOR BREAST-CANCER - REPORT OF A POPULATION-BASED EXPERIENCEIN THE CITY OF MILAN, ITALY

Aims and Background: Mammographic screening is recommended as a curren t health practice. The alm of the present study is to report the resul ts of a new program which started in the city of Milan in 1989. Method s: A total of 4882 women aged 50 to 61 years and resident in quarter n o. 16 of Milan were invited by mail to attend the screening at the San Paolo Hospital based on two-view mammography and physical examination . Results: A total of 2953 (60.5 %) women attended the first screening round, and 18 cancers were detected (1 Tis, 8 TI, 9 T2). The detectio n rate was 6.9 X 1000, and the prevalence/incidence ratio was around 3 .5. Conclusions: The study confirms the feasibility of breast cancer s creening in an urban setting by using the existing general hospital fa cilities and should be considered as a possible model for other urban experiences.