Distributive frequency of abnormal mammographic findings in local mammography and comparison with standard mammography in a private center in Iran: A 6-year study

Abstract

Background: First cause of women mortality due to cancer in worldwide is breast cancer. Approximately, 180000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States of America. In Iran, breast cancer affects women at least one decade younger than their counterparts in developed countries. In recent decades, mammography is the first method used in screening and early detection of breast cancer. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done between 2010 and 2015 in a private mammography center in Isfahan City, Iran. All patients came for at least one mammography. During 6 years, of 1015 patients who came for standard mammography, 226 had the criteria to enter the study. We recommended local mammography for them. Findings: The patients’ age ranged from 36 to 71 years with a mean age of 47.0 ± 6.9 years. We found that the most positive finding in standard mammography that we referred for local mammography was focal asymmetry and the least was spiculated mass. Positive findings of microcalcification and spiculated mass had more prevalence with increasing age. Conclusion: In comparison between standard mammography and local mammography, specificity of standard mammography was low for positive finding of focal asymmetry and was high for microcalcification. If we can decrease the requests for local mammography in focal asymmetry, the specificity of local mammography in screening and early detection of breast cancer will increase. © 2017, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.