OBJECTIVE: To understand the distribution of the average glandular dose (AGD) in mammography by investigating 1,828 exposure parameters of 8 mammography machines in three cities, by using random sampling. METHODS: A survey of 8 mammography machines in three different cities, sampled using stratified random sampling methods, was performed, and 1,828 mammography exposure parameters were recorded. Incident air kerma (k) was measured by Quality-Assurance (QA) dosimeters, and AGD was calculated by series conversion coefficients based on a 3D detailed Monte Carlo breast model, published by Wang et al. RESULTS: The distribution of compressed breast thickness (CBT) fitted a normal distribution, while that of AGD fitted a skewed distribution. The mean value of CBT in a medio-lateral oblique (MLO) view was about 5.6% higher than that in the craniocaudal (CC) view, with significant statistical difference; mean value of AGD and CBT in the sample was 1.3 mGy and 4.6 cm, respectively. The AGD trended upward with increasing CBT, similar to the results of other researches. CONCLUSION The mean AGD and CBT levels in our study for mammography practice in China were 1.3 mGy and 4.6 cm, respectively. AGD is influenced by manufacturer-specific variation as machine response to CBT changes and target/filter combination. The present study can provide evidence for establishing a diagnostic reference level in China.
Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; statistics & numerical data ; Middle Aged ; Radiation Dosage

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a new imaging method employing radionuclide and tomography technique. In breast cancer PET has high sensitivity in detecting primary tumor and axillary node metastasis. From 1995 June to 1996 November, 27 patients had undergone breast operations following PET under impression of breast cancer in Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH). Whole body PET images were obtained beginning 60 minutes after infection of 370 MBq (10 mCi) F-18 FDG (fluorodeoxy glucose). Regional scans were also obtained with transmission images. We compared PET results with those of physical examination and mammography. All cases were histologically confirmed. For primary tumor mass, diagnostic accuracy of PET was excellent (97%) compared with the physical examination (78%) and mammography (67%). For axillary lymph node metastasis, PET had an outstanding detection accuracy (96%), compared with the physical examination and mammography (74%, 60%, respectively). And whole body PET scan made it possible to see the all metastatic lesions at a glance in cases of metastatic or recurred breast cancer. There was likely correlation between Standard Uptake Value (SUV) and the number of axillary lymph node metastasis, but in this study, statistical significance was not proven because of small number of cases. PET also could detect breast cancer in paraffin augmented breast. We concluded that PET is very sensitive and accurate diagnostic tool for breast cancer and SUV, after more studies, could be used as an important prognostic factor.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Electrons* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mammography ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Physical Examination ; Positron-Emission Tomography* ; Prognosis ; Seoul ; Statistics as Topic

Objective: To estimate the cervical and breast cancer screening coverage and related factors among women aged 35-69 years who were in the National Cervical and Breast Screening Program, to provide evidence for improving cervical and breast cancer control and prevention strategy. Methods: Data used in this study were abstracted from the 2013 Chinese Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors Surveillance Program. A total of 66 130 women aged 35-64 years and 72 511 women aged 35-69 years were included for this study. Weighted prevalence, (with 95% confidence interval, CI) was calculated for complex sampling design. Rao-Scott χ(2) method was used to compare the screening coverage among subgroups. A random intercept equation which involved the logit-link function, was fitted under the following five levels: provincial, county, township, village and individual. Fix effects of all explanatory variables were converted into OR with 95%CI. Results: In 2013, 26.7% (95%CI: 24.6%-28.9%) of the 35-64 year-old women reported that they ever had been screened for cervical cancer and 22.5% (95% CI: 20.4%-24.6%) of the 35-69 year-olds had ever undergone breast cancer screening. Lower coverage was observed among women residing in rural and central or western China than those in urban or eastern China (P<0.000 1). The coverage among women aged 50 years or older was substantially lower than those aged 35-49 years. Those who were with low education level, unemployed, low household income and not covered by insurance, appeared fewer number on this cervical or breast cancer screening program (P<0.000 1). Women living in rural and western China were having less chance of receiving the breast cancer screening (P<0.05), but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: It is essential to strengthen the community-based cervical and breast cancer screening programs, in order to increase the coverage. More attention should be paid to women aged 50 years or older, especially those socioeconomically disadvantaged ones.
Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms/prevention & control* ; China/epidemiology* ; Early Detection of Cancer/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Healthcare Disparities ; Humans ; Mammography/statistics & numerical data* ; Mass Screening/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Papanicolaou Test/statistics & numerical data* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/prevention & control*

OBJECTIVE: To determine, by means of long-term follow-up evaluation, the outcome and accuracy of stereotactic core-needle biopsy (SCNB) of non-mass calcifications observed at mammography, and to analyze the factors contributing to false-negative findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a 14-gauge needle, SCNB was performed in cases involving 271 non-mass calcified lesions observed at mammography in 267 patients aged 23 72 (mean, 47) years. We compared the SCNB results with those of long-term follow-up which included surgery, mammography performed for at least six months, and reference to Korean Cancer Registry listings. We investigated the retrieval rate for calcifications observed at specimen mammography and histologic evaluation, and determined the incidence rate of cancer, sensitivity, and the underestimation rate for SCNB. False-negative cases were evaluated in terms of their mammographic findings, the effect of the operators' experience, and the retrieval rate for calcifications. RESULTS: For specimen mammography and histologic evaluation of SCNB, the retrieval rate for calcifications was, respectively, 84% and 77%. At SCNB, 54 of 271 lesions (19.9%) were malignant [carcinoma in situ, 45/54 (83%) ], 16 were borderline, and 201 were benign. SCNB showed that the incidence of cancer was 5.0% (6/120) in the benign mammographic category and 31.8% (48/151) in the malignant category. The findings revealed by immediate surgery and by longterm follow-up showed, respectively, that the sensitivity of SCNB was 90% and 82%. For borderline lesions, the underestimation rate was 10%. For false-negative cases, which were more frequent among the first ten cases we studied (p = 0.01), the most frequent mammographic finding was clustered amorphous calcifications. For true-negative and false-negative cases, the retrieval rate for calcifications was similar at specimen mammography (83% and 67%, respectively; p = 0.14) and histologic evaluation (79% and 75%, respectively; p = 0.47). CONCLUSION: In this study group, most diagnosed cancers were in-situ lesions, and long-term follow-up showed that the sensitivity of SCNB was 82%. Falsenegative findings were frequent during the operators' learning period.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Needle/*methods/standards/statistics & numerical data ; Breast/*pathology/surgery ; Breast Neoplasms/*diagnosis/epidemiology/surgery ; Calcinosis/*diagnosis/epidemiology/surgery ; Carcinoma in Situ/*diagnosis/epidemiology/surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease Progression ; False Negative Reactions ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Human ; Incidence ; Mammography/statistics & numerical data ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome