Screening organization and recall rate in a regional breast screening programme.

Abstract

Objective To use results on recall rates from a regional non-population-based breast screening programme to inform practice in a planned national population-based programme. Methods We analysed data on rates of recall for further assessment in 27,327 mammographic screening episodes in 2015-2016 in the breast screening programme in the city of Tbilisi, Georgia. Screening was done by two-view digital mammography with double reading in women aged 40-70, and further assessment took place at the same clinic and during the same visit as the initial screening mammogram. Results The recall rates were 46% (3573/7824) in 2015 and 27% (5276/19,503) in 2016. Cancer detection rates were 8 per 1000 in 2015 and 3 per 1000 in 2016. Rates of recall were higher in younger women than in older, whereas the rates of cancer detection were higher in older women. Conclusions The recall rates, while lower in 2016 than in 2015, are still too high to manage in a nationwide population programme. The use of same-visit assessment is likely to be contributing to this. The national programme should consider separate assessment clinics and carry out audit of recalls to date.