Impact of mammography on breast surgery in a small community hospital.

The impact of mammography on breast surgery at a small community hospital was evaluated by comparing the stage of cancer at diagnosis in a 5 year period before mammography with that in a 5 year period after its introduction. During both periods approximately the same number and stage of palpable carcinomas were diagnosed and treated. However, in the 5 year period after introduction of mammography, in addition to the 35 palpable carcinomas 11 additional nonpalpable occult carcinomas were diagnosed. These 11, with an average size of 8 mm and all in patients with negative nodes, would fit into the category of minimal breast cancer, which is associated with a 10 year disease-free interval of over 90 percent.