OUTCOMES OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BREAST BIOPSIES IN WOMEN RECEIVING MAMMOGRAMS FROM A COUNTY HEALTH VAN

Objective, To describe the outcomes of breast biopsy recommendations f or women screened through a mobile mammography van, Methods, Data on a ll women screened through the Mobile Mammography Program in Suffolk Co unty, long Island, NY, from 1990 to 1994 were analyzed to determine bi opsy recommendation rates, biopsy rates, positive biopsy rates, and ca ncer detection rates. Follow-up information was obtained from the wome n's physicians. Results. The breast cancer detection rate for women sc reened through the Mobile Mammography Program averaged 0.33% over a fi ve-year period. The biopsy recommendation rate based on abnormal mammo grams remained stable, at about 1% to 2%, over a five-year period, as did the rate of positive biopsies among women having biopsies (36.8% t o 44.4%). For women ages 50 and older, the cancer rate in 1994 was 0.3 6%, while for women younger than age 50, the cancer rate was 0.25% (0. 32% for all ages). Conclusions. These findings show that a breast canc er screening program using a mobile van can have comparable cancer det ection rates to national figures and a fairly stable biopsy recommenda tion rate from which follow-up resource needs can be estimated.