[Sketches and snapshots in breast screening]

The literature of breast-screening is vastly large, and enlarges by newer publications permanently. This summary can only be confined to publish data, with arbitrary selection. The mass-screening of complaintless and symptomless persons for early recognition of certain illnesses is to be completed according to district-principles, and to preliminarily agreed criteria. The breast-screening started in 1963 with the HIP-study, since then it is underway in a number of countries of the world. In Hungary, this activity started relatively early, in 1969. Circumstances of breast-screening are different in the individual countries. Standpoints of organisation: information, recruiting with the help of family-doctors. With respect to rates of occurrence of the breast-cancer, women between 45-65 years of age are mostly to be screened. The most suitable is the screening in every two years. Data are to be put in computer. The most important method for examination is mammography. About its complementary methods is the most important the ultrasonography. Certificating is always to be made by two physicians. Oncologists are to be in the closest cooperation with cytologists and pathologists. It is suitable, when an interdisciplinary team decides about the fate of patients. The quality-control and product-control of screening is obligatory based on international guidelines. An important idea of screening is the interval-carcinome, a cancer developing between two screening examinations. Mammology is to be performed only by personal trained accordingly for this. Advantage of screening: reducing of mortality by approximately. 30%--with certain differences in countries, with older, then 50 years of age, but it becomes evident after 10 years. The contrary opinions are scientifical, ethical and financial. The cancer-patients are to be observed and followed in their whole life. In this activity everybody may have some role. In the struggle against breast-cancer there is no better solution, than the breast-screening.