The incidence of interval cancers in the German mammography screening program: results from the population-based cancer registry in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Background: Cancer screening programs must meet high standards for quality and effectiveness, because many healthy persons need to be screened to detect relatively few cases of cancer. In this study, we use the rate of interval cancers as an important surrogate indicator for evaluating the German mammography screening program (MSP).

Methods: All first-time participants in the MSP in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia over the period 2005-2008 whose screening mammogram had been read as negative were followed over the next 24 months for the potential development of breast cancer (an "interval cancer" or IC).

Digital mammography screening: how many breast cancers are additionally detected by bilateral ultrasound examination during assessment?

Objective: To assess the positive predictive values of incremental breast cancer detection (PPV1) in relation to the mammographic breast density and of performed biopsies (PPV3) resulting from supplemental bilateral physician-performed whole-breast ultrasound (US) at recall of a population-based digital mammography screening programme.

Methods: A total of 2,803 recalled screening participants (50-69 years), who had additional bilateral US with prospectively completed documentation [grading of breast density (ACR 1-4), biopsy recommendation related to US and mammography], were included.

Results: The PPV1 of supplemental cancer detection only by US was 0.

Mammography Screening: Evidence, History and Current Practice in Germany and Other European Countries.

SUMMARY: In this review, we describe the history, evidence, and current practice of mammography screening in Europe and the newly implemented screening program in Germany. We report results of the first screening rounds in North Rhine-Westphalia and compare these with reference values set by the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis. Finally, we summarize and compare performance indicators of the organized screening program in England, Italy, North Rhine-Westphalia and The Netherlands.

Minimal invasive biopsy results of "uncertain malignant potential" in digital mammography screening: high prevalence but also high predictive value for malignancy.

Purpose: To evaluate the rate, the histological spectrum and the positive predictive value (PPV) for malignancy of minimally invasive biopsies with "uncertain malignant potential (B3)" in digital mammography screening.

Methods And Materials: Consecutive data of 37,178 participants of one digital unit of the German screening program were included.

Results: The B 3 rate was 15.

The role of mammography screening attendance and detection mode in predicting breast cancer survival-is there added prognostic value?

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine whether screening exposure status, defined as detection mode (screening, interval or symptomatic) combined with breast cancer screening attendance prior to diagnosis, had any additional value over detection mode in predicting breast cancer survival. We also assessed the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the association of detection mode with breast cancer survival.

Methods: We analysed and compared the associations of both screening exposure status and detection mode with 5-year breast cancer survival on a cohort of 3013 breast cancer patients, aged 50-74 years in Sweden.