Clinical and Radiographic Examination of the Breast in Well Women

Abstract

A survey to detect breast cancer in well women volunteers by clinical and mammographic techniques is described. Nine hundred and twelve such volunteers were examined by both methods and no carcinoma was found. One patient however presented 18 months later with a small palpable carcinoma. The reasons for the failure to detect significant disease are discussed and the incidental findings recorded. It is suggested that at the present time such surveys yield too little benefit to justify the work and expense entailed. Future developments in technique by reducing the cost might make such schemes more feasible hut at present they should be confine***d to screen certain ‘high risk’ populations.