oa Qatar Experience In Standard Breast Cancer Screening

Qatar experience in Standard Breast Cancer Screening Authers: Dr Salha Bujassoum ,Dr Hekmet Bugrein , Dr Reena ALaSSAM , Dr Mufid Elmistiri Abstract Qatar has one of the highest age-adjusted breast cancer incidences in the Arab world. Although this is much lower than the incidence in the West. Breast cancer incidence in Qatar was 45 per 100,000 in 2003-2007.These higher incidence rates in Qatar are mainly due to the growing population. The prevalent age group, between both Qatari and non-Qatari patients, was 40-50 years old. This suggests that the age-specific incidence of breast cancer in Qatari women is shifting more to a pattern usually not seen in Western nations where median age at diagnosis is 61 years of age, moreover the diagnosis is often at advanced stages of breast cancer. These factors, together with reconfirmed evidence of mortality benefit from breast cancer screening trials, led to establishment the first hospital based mammographic breast cancer screening program in Qatar. It uses a distributed model of mammography service. The program accepts eligible asymptomatic women at age between 45 - 69 years and was launched in 2008. It adopted international standards of breast screening practice and breast cancer detection. Methods A retrospective study was conducted to describe the breast cancer screening program in Qatar and to overview the detection rates, positive predictive values and sensitivity and specificity of mammogram. Results Total number of screened women was 4264 with an increasing participation, year by year. Out of these, Qatari patient's accounts for 1145, and non Qatari for 3119. The age group of breast cancer detected cases from screening program (43-51). Total breast biopsies were 82 core, of which 45 were positive of breast carcinomas, (37) invasive ductal carcinoma, (8) noninvasive ductal carcinoma. The Invasive cancer detection rate was 8.2 % The positive predictive value (PPV) was 46%. Sensitivity value has improved from 51% in 2008 to 70% in 2012 as well as specificity value that has increased from 77% in 2008 to 83% in 2012. Conclusion Public acceptance of the breast cancer screening program in Qatar gradually increased and detection rates were acceptable in this part of the world. We have a unique population of multinationals that merits tailored screening tools.