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. 2011;6(2):104-109.
doi: 10.1159/000327493. Epub 2011 Apr 29.

Mammography Screening: Evidence, History and Current Practice in Germany and Other European Countries

Cornelis Biesheuvel  1 , Stefanie Weigel, Walter Heindel
Affiliations

Mammography Screening: Evidence, History and Current Practice in Germany and Other European Countries

Cornelis Biesheuvel et al. Breast Care (Basel). 2011.

Abstract
in English, German

SUMMARY: In this review, we describe the history, evidence, and current practice of mammography screening in Europe and the newly implemented screening program in Germany. We report results of the first screening rounds in North Rhine-Westphalia and compare these with reference values set by the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis. Finally, we summarize and compare performance indicators of the organized screening program in England, Italy, North Rhine-Westphalia and The Netherlands. Based on results of the first screening rounds, we conclude that the digital mammography screening program in North Rhine-Westphalia performs well and complies with the European guidelines. Besides relatively low attendance rates of approximately 53%, implementation of the German organized breast cancer screening program was successful.

Zusammenfassung: Diese Übersichtsarbeit beleuchtet die Entwicklung und Evidenz des Mammographie-Screenings in Europa und das neu implementierte Screening-Programm in Deutschland. Die Ergebnisse der ersten Screening-Runden in Nordrhein-Westfalen werden mit den von den Europäischen Leitlinien zur Qualitätssicherung im Mammographie-Screening und bei der Diagnose vorgegebenen Referenzwerten verglichen. Zudem werden die Leistungsindikatoren der organisierten Screening-Programme in England, Italien, Nordrhein-Westfalen und den Niederlanden kritisch gegenübergestellt. Die Ergebnisse der ersten Screening-Runden in Deutschland belegen, dass das digitale Mammographie-Screening-Programm gut etabliert werden konnte und in Einklang mit den Europäischen Richtlinien steht. Abgesehen von der noch relativ geringen Teilnehmerrate von 53% ist das organisierte Brustkrebs-Screening-Programm in Deutschland erfolgreich gestartet.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Breast screening program in Europe by program type (population-based; non-population-based; no program) and implementation status (ongoing or complete; planning or piloting). Both Austria and Latvia plan transition from the currently implemented non-population-based programs to population-based screening. Sources: European Cancer Observatory [8] and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development [21].
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
T-stage distribution of symptomatic invasive breast cancers diagnosed in the Muensterland region from 2002 to 2004 (before implementation of the mammography screening program) and invasive breast cancers detected within the mammography screening program in North Rhine-Westphalia, including the Muensterland region, from 2005 to 2009. Data source T-stage distribution invasive cancers 2002–2004: Epidemiological Cancer Registry North Rhine-Westphalia (EKR-NRW).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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