Abstract:
ABSTRACT:
Objective: To assess the awareness of mammographic screening among women visiting the breast clinic at a tertiary care
facility in Karachi.
Study Design and Setting: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre Karachi
over one month period from 1-10-2019 to 31-10-2019.
Methodology: After receiving ethical approval, relevant information from patients coming to the breast clinic over the
study period, regarding age, level of education, family history, diagnosis and awareness regarding mammographic screening
was recorded on specially designed proformas and was statistically analyzed on SPSS 23. P value </= to 0.05 was considered
as statistically significant.
Results: Out of the 100 participants included in the study 68 patients had malignant lesions, 18 had a benign diagnosis
while 14 patients were undiagnosed. Only 42 had at least some knowledge of mammographic screening of breast cancers
and only 15 patients actually had a screening mammogram performed. Of those aware of the screening majority were
informed regarding the procedure by health care professionals or through media sources. Only 4 out of 17 participants with
a positive history of breast cancer in the family had the screening done. 12 patients diagnosed with malignant breast lesions
were under the age of 40 years.
Conclusion: Awareness of mammographic screening for breast cancer among females in our setup is still unsatisfactory
and calls for improvements in the awareness programs for breast cancer screening. An early age at diagnosis for malignant
breast lesions should prompt the concerned to revise the recommended lower age limit for commencing mammographic
screening.