First evaluation of the ASL of Lecce mammographic screening program results by using Surgical Pathology's indicators of quality in diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

The aim is to highlight the progress of earliness and quality of diagnosis and breast cancer cure in the Province of Lecce by surveying a number of indicators obtainable from surgical pathologist's evaluation. The study, con-ducted with the software SQTM (www.qtweb.it), is based on breast cancer of women 50-69 years old residing in the Province of Lecce who undergone breast surgery in the years 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011 and 2012 at the "V. Fazzi" Hospital, which is reference center for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer within the Breast Cancer Screening Program of the ASL of Lecce, active since 2008. Compared to the prescreening period, results of all the indicators showed an almost progressive and significant improvement along the years, highlighting the first beneficial effects, primarily the improvement of early diagnosis, resulting from the impact of screening on the female target population. However, the study has emphasized some important problems arising from persistent and systematic deficiencies in the organizational and multidisciplinary approach, on which we must concentrate efforts to further improve the screening program results.