Vol 4, No 2 (2008)
Guidelines / Expert consensus
Published online: 2008-05-13
European guidelines for quality assurance in breast cancer screening and diagnosis. Fourth edition - summary document
Onkol. Prak. Klin 2008;4(2):74-86.
Abstract
Breast cancer is a major cause of suffering and death and is of significant concern to many women. Early
detection of breast cancer by systematic mammography screening can find lesions for which treatment is
more effective and generally more favourable for quality of life. The potential harm caused by mammography
includes the creation of unnecessary anxiety and morbidity, inappropriate economic cost and the
use of ionising radiation. It is for this reason that the strongest possible emphasis on quality control and zmniejquality
assurance is required. Development of the European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Breast
Cancer Screening and Diagnosis has been an initiative within the Europe Against Cancer Programme.
The fourth edition of the multidisciplinary guidelines was published in 2006 and comprises 400 pages
divided into 12 chapters prepared by >200 authors and contributors. The multidisciplinary editorial board
has prepared a summary document to provide an overview of the fundamental points and principles that
should support any quality screening or diagnostic service. This document includes a summary table of
key performance indicators and is presented here in order to make these principles and standards known
to a wider scientific community
Keywords: best practicebreast cancer screeningcertificationmultidisciplinary diagnosisquality assurance guidelinesspecialist breast units