BREAST RADIOLOGICAL TREATMENT IN THE SCREENING PROGRAM

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective: The main objective of this paper is to define and explain radiological diagnostic procedures used in the detection of various diseases and changes in the breast, and to present their advantages and disadvantages. To prove that mammography remains the gold standard in early detection of breast cancer, despite newer imaging methods and techniques. The paper will also present the results and advantages of the "Early Breast Cancer Detection Program". The Cantonal Early Breast Cancer Detection Program is the first such program implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study. The participants were not actively involved, and their personal data remained fully protected. The data were collected retrospectively from official data sources provided by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Care through RIS (Radiology Information System) for the University Clinical Hospital in Mostar for our county. It included data from 01.01.2019. until 31.12.2024. The target population consisted of patients older than 45 to 69 years. A total of 3,432 patients in our county were included who were recorded on a mammogram at the University Clinical Hospital in Mostar. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows and Microsoft Office Excel 2010.

Results: The Cantonal Breast Cancer Early Detection Program is the first such program implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The program covers all women aged 45 to 69, regardless of health insurance status, and the goal of the program is to detect breast cancer at an early stage, which will reduce breast cancer mortality by 23-31%, prolong the life of breast cancer patients and improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients. All patients were first imaged with mammography. After reading the findings, depending on the stage, patients were referred for additional tests such as biopsy, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging. Initially, the program was planned in two phases. The first phase starts in 2019 and ends in December 2022. Given the number of women included in the program (32,444) and the planned response rate of 60%, the first phase (2019-2020) covers approximately 19,500 women. The second phase also lasted two years (2021-2022) and included women who were not included in the first phase, women who had meanwhile reached the target age, and women who were recommended for control mammography in our county in the first phase. In the first and second phases from 2019 to 2022, 933 patients were examined at the University Clinical Hospital Mostar, of whom 9 had a positive result. In the third phase of the program (2022-2024), 2,499 patients were examined at the University Clinical Hospital in Mostar. Of these, 18 had positive results.

Conclusions: Despite advances in technology, mammography remains the gold standard in early detection of breast cancer. This program demonstrates the importance of timely screening and following the recommendations of the World Health Organization to prevent the spread and early detection of breast cancer. When this program was launched, it was agreed that it would be worthwhile if one breast cancer was detected in time through the program.