Quality Control of Breast Cancer Screening with Mammography: A report supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Health and Welfare

A study group “Quality control of breast cancer screening with mammography” was organized to investigate essential issues for the nationwide introduction of mammography in breast cancer screening in Japan. Biennial clinical breast examination (CBE) with mammography demonstrated higher detection rate of early breast cancer, as well as higher sensitivity of breast cancer screening when compared to the current program, i. e., annual screening by CBE. The cost-effectiveness of screening with mammography was better than that of CBE alone. The life-years saved from breast cancer was calculated to much exceed the radiation-induced risk when mammographic screening would be conducted in women aged 50 yr and over. The screening combined with mammograpy seems justified for Japanese women aged 50 yr and over from the aspects of cost-effectiveness and risk-effectiveness results. Utilization of mammography is a more appropriate system for breast cancer screening as compared to current program.