The state of the organised mammography screening in Hungary in 2006

Abstract

Breast cancer represents a serious public health concern in Hungary. The most promising way of mortality reduction is organised screening which applies personal invitation, recall and follow-up. Screening women between 50-65 years of age by mammography combined with clinical breast examination is a method of proved effectiveness. The effectiveness has not yet been proved in premenopausal women, however, as a result of the public and professional pressure on decision-makers, perimenopausal women (above 45 years of age) are not excluded. In Hungary, the National Public Health Programme has established the managerial, administrative, legal and financial frame for an organised screening, therefore, since 2002, the programme has been in operation. Screening is provided in every other year. In the first two screening cycles, approximately 40% of invitees attended the screening test. According to the National Health Insurance Fund (OEP), under the influence of personal call-and-recall programme, the annual numbers of diagnostic mammography examinations have substantially increased, indicating that many invited women are looking for screening facility outside the programme. The detection rate and the small cancer detection rate are in line with the international standard values. To establish the number of "interval cancers", establishment of a pathological database ("patho-bank") is in progress, in close cooperation with the screening registry. According to the health economical analysis, the organised breast screening program is "affordable" for the financing agency.