National Health Service breast screening programme results for 1991-2

Abstract

Objectives - To report the results of the NHS breast screening programme for the year March 1991 to April 1992. Design - A report of statistics was derived from Korner (K62) returns and from the radiology quality assurance programme. Main outcome measures - Detection rates for breast cancer and small (≤ 10 diameter) invasive cancer, benign biopsy rates, and recall and acceptance rates. Results - The acceptance rate for screening across the United Kingdom was 71.3%. The referral rate for further investigation was 6.2% (regional 4.3-9.0%). The breast cancer detection rate was 6.2 cancers per 1000 women screened (5.1-9.0) and the detection rate of invasive cancers ≤ 10 mm was 1.4/1000 (1.0-2.3). 72% of screening programmes reached the target 70% acceptance rate, and 95% of programmes achieved a recall rate of less than 10%. 75% of programmes had a cancer detection rate of more than 5/1000, but only 32% had a dectection rate for invasive cancers ≤ 10 mm of more than 1.5/1000. Conclusions - Overall, the results of the screening programme for the year 1991-2 can be regarded as extremely satisfactory, given the size and complexity of the operation.