ULTRASOUND SCREENING FOR BREAST CANCER IN RIJEKA, CROATIA –2004 REPORT

Purpose: Croatia is the country with continuously growing incidence of breast cancer. Its early detection has become the highest priority of the Ministry of Health which created the Croatian National Breast Cancer Early Detection Programme in 2003, upon which early detection projects were initiated, particularly those in the primary health care. Such one is a continuous project that has been going on since 2003 the leading part of which has been ultrasound screening for breast cancer. Its 2004 results were reported.

Methods and Materials: In 2003 the Ultrasound Diagnostic Service in the Health Centre Rijeka in collaboration with the county health authorities initiated a project „Primary Prevention and Early Detection of the Breast Cancer in Primary Health Care“ implementing recommendations and guidelines by Croatian Senologic Society and Ministry of Health. During 2004 this project was supported by the Croatian Red Cross enabling the study of representative random sample of the women population in Western Croatia.

There were 518 women from the county area included in this project in the period from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2004. They were all fully informed on three main topics with data relevant to situation in Croatia: a) risk factors groups, b) risk age groups and c) diagnostic procedures. The latter were followed by ultrasound breast examination and comprehensive report.

Results: Before bringing forth the following results, all normal findings, as well as all non-malignant pathological findings were excluded. Fourteen (2.70%) women had already been operated due to breast cancer before, with negative ultrasound finding in the observed follow-up period. Six (1.16%) women had a clear positive finding, and 12 (2.32%) women had suspect finding requiring further assessment. The youngest woman with positive finding was 26, and the oldest one was 75, while the average age was 54. The youngest woman with suspect finding was 24, and the oldest one was 79, while the average age was 55. Altogether, every sixteenth woman in the observed population had been either operated from breast cancer before or had an ultrasound finding requiring obligatory further surgical consultation.

Conclusions: Breast ultrasound screening has proved to be a valuable tool for early detection of breast cancer. Its relatively low cost, accessibility and harmlessness make it an excellent option for early detection in the primary health care.