The role of mammography on breast cancer patients in a hospital setting

Abstract

From Oct. 1, 1983 to May 31, 1988, 6198 mammograms were taken and 443 mastectomies were performed at the Yonsei University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Of these, 191 cases had preoperative mammography performed prior to surgery (study group) and 252 cases underwent mastectomies without preoperative mammography (control group). There were no significant differences between the two groups in pathological stages, axillary lymph node metastasis and size of the tumor, suggesting that little benefit is derived from the preoperative mammography in the hospital setting. However, there were a number of other findings, including a 14% incidence of multiple foci and localization of non-palpable cancer in 3% of cases, that could help us to make therapeutic plans and strategies for these patients.