Impact of second reminder invitation on uptake of screening and cancer detection in BreastCheck.

This research aims to quantify the impact of reminder invitations on uptake and cancer detection in Ireland. Examination of BreastCheck's clinical database (2000-2010) to determine number of women screened following first invitation and after reminder; comparison by age group and screening phase with outcomes of recall rate, cancer detection and true positive rates. Of 819,182 first invitations sent 448,974 (54.

The physical health of residents of long-stay wards in Carlow/Kilkenny.

Objectives: This audit is supported by regulations within the Mental Health Act 2001. It is in response to the Mental Health Commission Strategic Priority Number One, Quality Framework, 2002-2008 which aims to promote high standards of physical examination in the care of long-stay residents of psychiatric facilities. It is based on improved awareness of adverse effects of mental illness or its treatment on physical health.

Comparison of the clinical performance of three digital mammography systems in a breast cancer screening programme.

This study compares the clinical performance of three digital mammography system types in a breast cancer screening programme. 28 digital mammography systems from three different vendors were included in the study. The retrospective analysis included 238 182 screening examinations of females aged between 50 and 64 years over a 3-year period.

Re-evaluating the role of axillary lymph node dissection in screen-detected breast cancer patients.

Introduction: The American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG), Z0011 trial, demonstrated that there was no therapeutic benefit from completion lymphadenectomy in early stage breast cancer patients with positive sentinel node (SLN) biopsy. Patients with asymptomatic screen-detected tumors may represent a subgroup where completion axillary dissection with its attendant morbidities is unacceptable. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ALND in an asymptomatic screen-detected breast cancer cohort.

Clinical dose performance of full field digital mammography in a breast screening programme.

Objective: BreastCheck, the Irish Breast Screening Programme, has employed three different models of a full field digital mammography (FFDM) system since its transition to a digital service in 2007. The three models from GE Healthcare, Hologic and Sectra exhibit differences in their design and function, the most significant of which include anode target/filter choice, detector technology and the type of exposure automation.

Methods: The aim of this study was to use the results from a clinical breast dose survey to examine the differences between three different FFDM models in terms of exposure selection, breast mean glandular dose (MGD) and automatic exposure control (AEC) dose contribution.

False-positive mammographic screening: factors influencing re-attendance over a decade of screening.

Introduction: International studies on the effect of false-positive mammographic screening results on subsequent re-attendance at screening are inconsistent.

Setting: BreastCheck, the national breast screening programme for the Republic of Ireland, screens women two-yearly. Re-attendance for subsequent screening is approximately 90%.

Radiotherapy and breast reconstruction: a meta-analysis.

The optimum sequencing of breast reconstruction (BR) in patients receiving postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) is controversial. A comprehensive search of published studies that examined postoperative morbidity following immediate or delayed BR with combined radiotherapy was performed. Medical (MEDLINE & EMBASE) databases were searched and cross-referenced for appropriate studies where morbidity following BR was the primary outcome measured.

Comprehensive dose survey of breast screening in Ireland.

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of digital mammography screening on breast dose by analysing the results of a patient dose survey of the Irish breast screening programme. Results from the survey were used to determine a dose reference level for the screening programme. Approximately, 100 examinations were acquired for each of the digital mammography systems operational in the screening programme.

Outcome of axillary staging in early breast cancer: a meta-analysis.

Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is associated with significant morbidity, whilst sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has the potential to minimize complications in the management of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to systematically appraise the outcome of SNB when compared to ALND. A comprehensive search for published trials examining outcomes after SNB for breast cancer was performed using medline and cross-referencing available data.

Investigation of the effect of anode/filter materials on the dose and image quality of a digital mammography system based on an amorphous selenium flat panel detector.

A comparison, in terms of image quality and glandular breast dose, was carried out between two similar digital mammography systems using amorphous selenium flat panel detectors. The two digital mammography systems currently available from Lorad-Hologic were compared. The original system utilises Mo/Mo and Mo/Rh as target/filter combinations, while the new system uses W/Rh and W/Ag.

Cylindroma of the breast: a case report and review of the literature.

Cylindroma of the breast is a very rare lesion which is morphological and immunophenotypically identical to benign dermal cylindroma. We report a breast cylindroma in a previously healthy 62 year old female detected through a national breast screening program. The patient had no significant family or past medical history, and specifically no history of breast or skin diseases.

Customer focus in breast cancer screening services.

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate how a generic value chain and customer focused system as demonstrated by the Scottish and Irish breast screening programmes can be used to provide a high quality health service.

Design/methodology/approach: Literature relevant to aligning the entire operating model--the companies' culture, business processes, management systems to serve one value discipline, i.e.

A novel method for contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) evaluation of digital mammography detectors.

The purpose of this study was to test a new, simple method of evaluating the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) over the entire image field of a digital detector and to compare different mammography systems. Images were taken under clinical exposure conditions for a range of simulated breast thicknesses using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). At each PMMA thickness, a second image which included an additional 0.

Enhancing the adjuvant treatment of hormone receptor positive breast cancer.

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are now regarded as the optimum hormonal therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer. However, it is unclear which of the currently available AIs offers patients the most effective and the best-tolerated treatment strategy. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials that compared AIs (as first-line agents) with standard hormonal treatment in patients with breast cancer.

Consensus review of discordant findings maximizes cancer detection rate in double-reader screening mammography: Irish National Breast Screening Program experience.

Purpose: To assesses consensus review of discordant screening mammography findings in terms of its sensitivity, safety, and effect on overall performance in the first 6 years of operation of the Irish National Breast Screening Program (NBSP).

Materials And Methods: Women who participated in the Irish NBSP gave written informed consent for use of their data for auditing purposes. Local ethics committee approval was obtained.

Analysis of the mammographic and sonographic features of pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the imaging findings in 149 patients with pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) who had undergone at least 4 years of clinical follow-up for detection of subsequent malignancy.

Conclusion: PASH is a common entity that presents with benign imaging features without evidence of subsequent malignant potential. At our institution, in the absence of suspicious features a diagnosis of PASH at core biopsy is considered sufficient, and surgical excision has been obviated.

Radiographer gender and breast-screening uptake.

BreastCheck, the Irish National Breast Screening Programme, screens women aged 50-64. Radiographer recruitment has been a challenge; doubling of numbers is required for full national expansion; to date females are employed. The aim was to document attitudes to male radiographers and effect on return for subsequent screening.

PET CT imaging in patients undergoing sentinel node biopsy for melanoma.

Aims: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been adopted in the surgical treatment of melanoma to reduce morbidity and enhance staging. Positron emission tomography with computerised tomography (PET/CT) has been utilised in the staging of patients with malignancy though the role of this imaging modality in early stage melanoma is unclear. This study examined the preoperative value of PET/CT in patients undergoing SLNB for malignant melanoma.

Estrogen receptor beta and breast cancer.

A second estrogen receptor, estrogen receptor-beta, was identified in 1996 and has led to an intensive re-evaluation of the role of estrogens in normal physiological and disease processes. While much has been learnt about this new receptor, there remain many outstanding questions, particularly regarding its prognostic significance and therapeutic implications.

Surgical intervention in screen-detected patients versus symptomatic patients with breast cancer.

Objectives: The impact of population-based screening for breast cancer on the rate of breast-conserving surgery has not been established. We sought to evaluate whether surgical intervention in patients with screen-detected breast cancer differed from those with clinically detected tumours.

Settings: St Vincent's University Hospital and the BreastCheck Merrion Unit, part of the Irish National Breast Screening Programme, were the setting for the study.

Estrogen receptor alpha and beta profiling in human breast cancer.

Background: The identification of a second estrogen receptor (ER-beta) has significant implications for therapeutic strategy in breast cancer management arising from the potential agonist effect of Tamoxifen at estrogen receptor sites and as such, antiestrogen therapy may be inappropriate in patients with a dominance of ER-beta.

Methods: To determine the proportion of breast cancer patients who may be so at risk, we developed a novel multiplexed RT-PCR technique to establish the relative ER-alpha and ER-beta levels in 53 primary breast cancers, 11 normal breast tissues and six cell lines. We further assessed the prognostic significance of receptor status relative to the Nottingham prognostic index (NPI).

Pathological axillary lymph nodes detected at mammographic screening.

Aim: To investigate the significance of abnormal axillary lymph nodes detected at mammographic screening in the absence of a concomitant breast lesion.

Methods: Twenty-three thousand, seven hundred and seven women were screened at the Merrion Unit as part of the Irish National Breast Screening Programme ("BreastCheck") in the period June 2000 to July 2002. Nine women (0.

Screening mammography: the Mount Sinai BreastCheck experience.

Early detection can result in a decrease in the death rate from breast cancer. Screening mammography is the most important modality available to discover early so-called "minimal" cancer. In an effort to make screening mammography more available to the women of north central Connecticut, Mount Sinai Hospital, a community based, university-affiliated hospital initiated a screening program five years ago.

Mobile mammography: the first six-months experience at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Mount Sinai Hospital's Mobile Mammography Program, BreastCheck, is designed to screen large numbers of women for breast cancer in the greater Hartford area. Despite the American Cancer Society recommendations for screening mammography, many physicians still are not complying with these guidelines. This report details our first six-months experience.