A multicentre review of the direct-access mammography programme in Ireland for women with breast pain

• Published in: Clinical radiology 2024-02, Vol.79 (2), p.e227-e231
• Main Authors: Geoghegan, C, Horan, M, Crilly, E, Kelly, A, Lyons, R, Geoghegan, L, Duke, D, Sweeney, L, McCartan, D, O'Keeffe, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breast - diagnostic imaging; Breast - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Humans; Ireland - epidemiology; Mammography; Mass Screening; Mastodynia - diagnostic imaging; Mastodynia - etiology; Multicenter Studies as Topic
• ISSN: 0009-9260; 1365-229X; 1365-229X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2023.10.030

To assess the current use of the direct access mammography pathway for breast pain and the rate of breast cancer detection in this patient cohort. A retrospective review of general practitioner (GP)-referred mammograms performed during a 12-month period from January to December 2022 across four tertiary referral centres. With the use of medical records and GP referrals, patient demographics, presenting symptoms, family history, and clinical outcomes were recorded. The present study comprised 2,046 patients of which 21.6% did not report breast pain at the time of referral. Thirty-five per cent had a positive family history with 40% of these patients having no breast pain. Twelve per cent were recalled with 30% of these patients requiring biopsy. An overall cancer detection rate (CDR) of 7 per 1000 was determined for women with mastalgia. A CDR of 0 per 1,000 was determined for women