Page 423 - Medicine and Surgery
P. 423
P1: KTX
BLUK007-10 BLUK007-Kendall May 12, 2005 20:3 Char Count= 0
Chapter 10: Breast cancer screening 419
the lesion prior to surgery. The lump can then be iden- effect of screening on mortality, but as the range of mor-
tified and either undergo excision biopsy or wide local talityratesexceedthereductionofmortalitybyscreening
excision with the removal of a margin of surrounding it is difficult to demonstrate a statistical benefit. Overall
normal tissue. If the histology demonstrates malignancy it appears that one woman in every 1000 who under-
further treatments for breast cancer may be required (see goes breast screening may be prevented from dying from
page 417). breast cancer. This must be balanced against false pos-
The evidence of the breast cancer screening pro- itive screening results and unnecessary biopsies, which
gramme is difficult to assess. Trials have investigated the are the cause of significant patient morbidity.
