Abstract
Purpose
To investigate whether gynecologists considered the age of women when requesting ultrasound (US) and/or mammography examinations. Furthermore, to determine in which situations gynecologists referred patients to breast imaging clinics for breast examinations, and aimed to establish the reasons behind cases of non-referral.
Materials and methods
A questionnaire-based survey was conducted from February to April 2023 among gynecologists practicing at government, university, or private hospitals/centers. The participants were contacted through an online Web link (www.googledocs.com).
Results
The questionnaire was completed by 80 gynecologists. In total, 96.2% of the participants referred women to breast imaging clinics. The proportion of female physicians (70%) was higher than that of male physicians, and 55% were younger than 40 years. Menopause, hormone replacement therapy, and hereditary/genetic or familial breast cancer were the most commonly considered risk factors when referring women. Overall, 75% of participants requested mammography for women aged ≥ 40 years. For women between the ages of 30 and 40, mammography was requested by 40% of physicians. For women younger than 30, US was requested by 70% of participants, while a small number of participants (7.5%) requested mammography if deemed necessary.
Conclusion
Gynecologists tend to refer women to breast imaging clinics for screening rather than for diagnostic purposes. Female gynecologists have a higher tendency for referral, especially if there is a risk factor involved. Seminars or courses at gynecology conferences can be organized by experienced breast imaging specialists to give detailed information about breast cancer and examination methods according to patient age. This will ensure better breast assessment.
Zusammenfassung
Zweck
Es wurde untersucht, ob Gynäkologen das Alter der Frauen berücksichtigen, wenn sie eine Sonographie (Ultraschall, US) und/oder Mammographie beantragen. Darüber hinaus wurde ermittelt, in welchen Fällen Gynäkologen Patientinnen zur Brustuntersuchung an Kliniken für bildgebende Verfahren überwiesen haben, wobei die Gründe für die Nichtüberweisung eruiert werden sollten.
Materialien und Methoden
Von Februar bis April 2023 wurde eine fragebogenbasierte Umfrage unter Gynäkologen durchgeführt, die an staatlichen, universitären oder privaten Krankenhäusern/Zentren praktizieren. Die Teilnehmerinnen wurden über einen Online-Web-Link kontaktiert (www.googledocs.com).
Ergebnisse
Der Fragebogen wurde von 80 Gynäkologen ausgefüllt. Insgesamt überwiesen 96,2 % der Teilnehmerinnen Frauen an Kliniken für Brustbildgebung. Der Anteil der weiblichen Ärzte (70 %) war höher als der Anteil männlicher Ärzte, und 55 % waren jünger als 40 Jahre. Menopause, Hormonersatztherapie und erblicher/genetischer oder familiärer Brustkrebs waren die am häufigsten genannten Risikofaktoren bei der Überweisung von Frauen. Insgesamt forderten 75 % der Teilnehmerinnen eine Mammographie für Frauen im Alter von ≥ 40 an. Bei Frauen im Alter zwischen 30 und 40 Jahren wurde die Mammographie von 40 % der Ärzte angefordert. Bei Frauen unter 30 Jahren verlangten 70 % der Teilnehmerinnen eine US-Untersuchung, während nur wenige Teilnehmerinnen (7,5 %) eine Mammographie verlangten, wenn sie diese für notwendig hielten.
Schlussfolgerung
Gynäkologen überweisen Frauen eher zum Screening als zu diagnostischen Zwecken an Kliniken für Brustbildgebung. Gynäkologinnen neigen eher zu einer Überweisung, insbesondere wenn ein Risikofaktor vorliegt. Auf gynäkologischen Konferenzen können Seminare oder Kurse von erfahrenen Spezialisten für Brustbildgebung organisiert werden, um detaillierte Informationen über Brustkrebs und altersgerechte Untersuchungsmethoden zu vermitteln; dies erlaubt eine bessere Beurteilung der Brust.
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Data availability statement
The data of this study cannot be shared with third parties in accordance with the patient informed consent forms.
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B. Tutar declares that she has no competing interests.
The ethical committee of Medipol University approved this prospective observational study (decision number: 177, date: 16.02.2023) and informed consent was obtained from all participants.
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Tutar, B. Attitudes of Gynecologists toward Referral of Women to Breast Imaging Clinics for Breast Cancer Screening or Diagnosis. Radiologie 63 (Suppl 2), 108–112 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00117-023-01225-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00117-023-01225-5