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Mammography screening reduces mortality from breast cancer and is the only imaging technique that has shown to reduce risk.

Mammography screening has reduced the risks of breast cancer in women aged 50-69 years by 30%, a symposium was told yesterday. “Mammography is believed to reduce mortality from breast cancer. No other imaging technique has been shown to reduce risk, but breast self-examination ( BSE ) and physician examination are considered essential parts of regular breast care,” Al Amal Hospital’s breast imaging head Dr Amal al-Obaidi said.

She was making a presentation on “Introduction to breast imaging in Qatar” at the opening session of Hamad Medical Corporation’s two-day third Qatar Radiology Symposium.

“Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting women in Qatar. During 1984-2004, it constituted about 13.3% of all cancer cases and affecting 29% of women in the age group of 45-50,” she said.

Dr al-Obaidi mentioned that some 60% of stage two breast cancer was also recorded during that period.

She stressed that mammography screening was being prescribed for women aged between 40-50 years. “ Magnetic Resonance Imaging ( MRI ) is very pertinent to detecting cancer tumours, so in 2008 and 2009, we did a total of 108 and 232 MRI respectively,” Dr al-Obaidi mentioned. The symposium features lectures by experts on the latest developments in the field of medical imaging.

Apart from lectures by experts in the field from within Qatar and the GCC region, educational sessions for the residents are also being held. The symposium has also been structured to include scientific activities including sessions on breast imaging, neuromuscular, skeletal and cardiac imaging as well as a number of workshops and tutorials for radiology residents.

Source: Gulf Times