Abstract:
Objectives: To document the mammographic patterns
in females seeking medical attention in Accra.
Design: An analytic retrospective study was conducted
using data extracted from mammography request forms
and corresponding radiological reports of 180 females.
Setting: The radiology departments of Korle-Bu
Teaching Hospital, the Trust Hospital and Medical
Imaging Ghana, all located in Accra.
Results: One hundred and eighty radiologic request
forms for mammographic evaluations and their
corresponding reports from the study period were
reviewed. The mean age of the study population was
48.7 years (SD=10.0), and the median age group was
the 41–50 group. There were more screening
mammography evaluations (115 examinations) than
diagnostic mammography evaluations (65
examinations). Most of the cases diagnosed as breast
cancer were in the age group 41–50 years. Benign
lesions were commoner than cancer (55 and 16 cases
respectively). The commonest presenting complaint
was of pain.
Conclusion: The larger number of screening
mammographic evaluations conducted for
asymptomatic females during the study period, as
compared to diagnostic mammographic evaluations for
symptomatic females, suggests that educational
programs on early breast cancer detection are having a
positive impact on the target population. The
observation that 22.8% of lesions had features
suggestive of breast cancer in the study is significantly
high to also warrant intensification of the existing
awareness programs. As non-specific masses were the
most common radiographically observed lesions,
hospitals equipped with sonography and biopsy
facilities that compliment their mammography are
better suited for thorough breast disease evaluation.