Mammographic assessment of the symptomatic nonsuspicious breast

Background Evidence from breast screening programs demonstrates the value of mammography in the detection of asymptomatic breast cancer. Methods This study prospectively assessed the role of mammography in the management of 585 patients presenting to a breast clinic, over a 1-year period, with symptomatic breast disease and without clinical or cytological evidence of malignancy. Results Eighteen (3%) of these patients had breast cancer. Eight patients presenting with nonspecific nodularity had carcinoma. All patients had relatively early disease. Conclusions This study suggests that patients with symptomatic disease presenting to a breast clinic represent a group at higher risk of malignancy than screened asymptomatic patients, and that symptomatic women over 40 years of age should have bilateral mammography before being discharged from the breast clinic.