Scope of diagnostic and screening methods for breast cancer among women in the state of pernambuco: Knowing in order to intervene

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to know the diagnostic and screeming methods for breast cancer, made available by public health services and their reach among women in the state of Pernambuco. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and retrospective study, whose data were obtained by consulting the Siscan database, made available by
datasus. This study population consisted of female patients of all age groups in the state, from January to December 2021.
The variables were grouped taking into account three indicators: mammography, cytology, and histology. Results: A total of
147,852 mammograms were performed, with the 50–54-year-old group being the most prevalent. Of the total, 145,745 were
for screening purposes and 2,136 for diagnostic purposes of the mammographic reports obtained results with BI-RADS
4 and 5. There was a predominance BI-RADS 1. The number of cytology performed was only 404, with the most prevalent
age group between 45 and 49 years, with 180 tumors of solid type, where 12.6% were positive, suspected, or indeterminate for malignancy. According to the histopathological report, the rate of malignant breast lesions was approximately
47.92%, with prevalence in the age group between 45 and 49 years. Only 1,810 of the lesions could be diagnosed by imaging and 879 were palpable on clinical breast examination. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the need to expand the
age group recommend by the ministry of health for breast cancer screeming, for an earlier onset, from the age of 40 years.
In addition, the scope of diagnostic methods is still frustrating, as a small number of women progress in the investigation.