[Screening for breast cancer (author's transl)]

This is a report on the breast cancer screening project carried out in the city of Utrecht/Netherlands. Women aged 50 to 64 were examined by clinical examination and xeromammography. The predictice value of recommendation for biopsy was 42% (sensitivity 94%, specificity 99%). The prevalence rate of breast cancer at the first screening was 7.2 (0/00). Comparing the situation before and during the screening program the number of tumors less than 3 cm in diameter and the number of cases with negative axillary lymph nodes have increased in breast cancer patients detected by screening.