SCREENING FOR BREAST-CANCER IN GHENT, BELGIUM - FIRST RESULTS OF A PROGRAM INVOLVING THE EXISTING HEALTH-SERVICES

In 1992, a population-based breast cancer screening programme was init iated in the municipality of Ghent: all women aged 40-69 years were pe rsonally invited to attend a local radiology unit for a mammogram, aft er being examined by a general practitioner or gynaecologist of their choice. The results of history taking, clinical breast examination, fi rst and second reading, further investigation and primary treatment we re registered. In total, 24.3% of the eligible population was screened in the period 1992-1994. The recall and biopsy rates were 2.9% and 1. 4%, respectively. The cancer detection rate was 8.1 per 1000 women scr eened. Of all cancers detected, 88.0% (66/75) were invasive. Of these, 35.9% (23/64) measured 10mm or less in diameter. The benign to malign ant biopsy ratio was 0.7. Apart from the low participation, these resu lts suggest that the programme is effective, compared with reference s tandards and the results of other studies. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.