Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Mammographic screening for non-palpable breast cancer in Japan

  • Published:
Breast Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In Japan, mammography was endorsed for breast cancer screening in women aged 40 and over by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2004. The spread of mammographie screening has caused an increase in the incidence of non-palpable breast cancer.

Precision reading for mammography is necessary to detect non-palpable breast cancer. When mass and focal asymmetric density is noted, it is important to analyze the density, density gradient, internal structure, margin and associated findings. Calcifications are classified by morphology and distribution mainly. It is necessary to distinguish secretor-type calcifications from necrotic-type calcifications.

The Iwate Cancer Association performed a population-based screening program for breast cancer using mammography combined with clinical breast examination of 42,065 women in Iwate Prefecture from 1999 to 2003. A total of 2,329 (5.7%) women were recalled and the 112 cases (0.27%) of cancer were detected in 114 breasts. Of 114 breast cancers, 40 (35%) were non-palpable and 74 (65%) were palpable. The early breast cancer (stage 0 and I ) rate of the non-palpable group was significantly higher than that of the palpable group (90% and 47%, p = 0.0003). The node-negative rate of the non-palpable group was sig-nificantly higher than that of the palpable group (92% and 68%, p = 0.011).

It is expected that mammographie screening will be expanded and that the mortality rate from breast cancer in Japan will decrease, as in Europe and the United States.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kanemura S, Tsuji I, Ohuchi N, Takei H, Yokoe T, Koibuchi Y, Ohnuki K, Fukao A, Satomi S, Hisamichi S: A case control study on the effectiveness of breast cancer screening by clinical breast examination in Japan.Jpn J Cancer Res 90:607–613, 1999.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ohuchi N, Yoshida K, Kimura M, Ouchi A, Kamioki S, Shiiba K, Matoba N, Kojima S, Takahashi K, Matsuno S, Fukao A, Abe R, Mori S: Improved detection rate of early breast cancer in mass screening combined with mammography.Jpn J Cancer Res 84:807- 812, 1993.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ohuchi N, Yoshida K, Kimura M, Ouchi A, Shiiba K, Ohnuki K, Fukao A, Abe R, Matsuno S, Mori S: Comparison of false negative rates among breast cancer screening modalities with or without mammography: Miyagi Trial.Jpn J Cancer Res 86:501–506, 1995.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Morimoto T, Sasa M, Yamaguchi T, Harada K, Sagara Y: A comparison of mass screening for breast cancer using mammography and physical examination alone in Japan.Breast Cancer 30:19–25, 1995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Morimoto T, Sasa M, Yamaguchi T, Kondo H, Akaiwa H, Sagara Y: Breast cancer screening by mammography in women aged under 50 years in Japan.Anticancer Res 20:3689–3694, 2000.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Morimoto T, Okazaki M, Endo T: Current Status and Goals of Mammographic Screening for Breast Cancer in Japan.Breast Cancer 11:73–80, 2004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. The Committee of Mammography Guideline (Japan Radiological Society, Japanese Society of Radiological Technology): Mammography Guideline. Igaku Syoin, Tokyo, 1999(in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  8. American College of Radiology: Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, 2nd ed. Reston, VA: American College of Radiology, 1995.

  9. The Quality Control Manual Preparation Committee (edited by N Ohuchi): Guideline for mammographic screening for breast cancer -Quality control manual. Nippon Iji Shinpo-Sha, Tokyo, 2000 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Barton MB, Harris R, Fletcher SW: The rational clinical examination. Does this patient have breast cancer? The screening clinical breast examination: Should it be done? How?JAMA 282:1270–1280, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Taplin SH, Rutter CM, Finder C, Mandelson MT, Houn F, White E: Screening Mammography: Clinical image quality and the risk of interval breast cancer.Am J Rentgenol 178:797–803, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Howe HL, Wingo PA, Thun MJ, Ries LAG, Rosenberg HM, Feigal EG, Edwards BK: Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer (1973 through 1998), featuring cancers with recent increasing trends.J Natl Cancer Inst 93:824–842, 2001.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Breast Surgery, Iwate Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan

    Koji Ohnuki

Authors
  1. Koji Ohnuki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Ohnuki, K. Mammographic screening for non-palpable breast cancer in Japan. Breast Cancer 12, 258–266 (2005). https://doi.org/10.2325/jbcs.12.258

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2325/jbcs.12.258

Keywords

Search

Navigation